The Denver Broncos are facing the hungry Jacksonville Jaguars today, at 2:25 p.m. MT at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, and the visitors will likely be without one of their best players in Jalen Ramsey.
Ramsey, arguably the best cornerback in the NFL today, did not practice all week for multiple reasons. He left Jacksonville to witness the birth of his second son on Thursday and was also dealing with flu-like symptoms this week. Ramsey is officially listed as “questionable” and did travel with the Jaguars to Denver per reports.
But, it turns out Ramsey wasn’t the only one dealing with cold and flu-like symptoms, per Benjamin Allbright here:
Some other news:
Jags have quietly been dealing with an illness in the locker room. Couple players come down with cold and flu like symptoms.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) September 28, 2019
Jalen Ramsey, Quincy Williams, Geoff Swaim all been listed as sick at point or another this week. https://t.co/Z9r1icGGfy
— Jaguar Report (@JaguarReport) September 28, 2019
On the final injury report of the week, Williams indeed was listed as missing practice on Wednesday and being limited on Thursday due to an illness. It’s possible Ramsey spread that illness around the locker room, which could hamper the Jaguars this afternoon.
Williams, the rookie linebacker, has played well this year with 20 combined tackles and one tackle for a loss. He participated in 100% and then 99% of snaps the last two weeks for Jacksonville, so if he can’t go, it would be a blow to their defense. Fellow linebacker D.J. Alexander, who made the Pro Bowl in 2016 with the Kansas City Chiefs, is officially ruled out today, making Williams’ status even more important.
Swaim, a tight end who has eight receptions for 39 yards, isn’t on the official injury report bot Pro Football Reference has him listed as questionable with that same illness. Swaim backs up James O’Shaughnessy (10 rec. 78 yards, 1 TD) and the team’s third tight end, Josh Oliver, is also listed as “out” for today’s game.
Denver has been deeply troubled in terms of covering tight ends, the last few years, so if Swaim can’t go, that’s a little boost for the Broncos.
Offensively, Denver has done well this year in terms of plays per drive at 7.61, which is best in the NFL, but their terrible 1.64 points per drive is 25th in the league. Where the Broncos offense can flourish today is by attacking Ramsey’s backup in D.J. Hayden as our Zach Segars wrote earlier this week.
Joe Flacco has played quite well considering his lack of protection from the offensive line, and while those tackles will have their hands full today, if they can just give Flacco some time he should be able to connect with Courtland Sutton for a few big gains.
Simply, if Denver wants to win their first game of the year, they must finish drives of with points, preferably touchdowns. Given the lack of health in Jacksonville’s locker room, the fact the Broncos are at home and Denver’s back is against the wall, things are pointing to a first Broncos win of the year today.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. MT.