Tag: offensive tackle

Broncos OT Alex Palczewski believed to have suffered high ankle sprain

Alex Palczewski likely has a high ankle sprain. Mike McGlinchey has to sit out one more game before being eligible to return from IR.

Denver Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s 34-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Palczewski (6-6, 314 pounds) will undergo more testing on Monday. If it is indeed a high ankle sprain, Palczewski could miss multiple weeks. That would be a big blow to Denver’s offensive line as ‘Palco’ has done an excellent job filling in for Mike McGlinchey, who is still on injured reserve.

“Very impressed,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said when asked about Palczewski on Friday. “We talked about it last week. This guy started and I think he set a record for most games played in college. He just knows how to play the game. I think we kind of anticipated that he’d be able to hang in there and be productive.

“You don’t know for sure until you really see the live bullets and he’s kind of lived up to those expectations. It’s fun to watch when you have a guy that’s [a] late draft pick or a free agent who are able to come in and compete at that level and compete well. It’s very exciting.”

If the Broncos place Palczewski on IR, he would have to sit out at least four games. McGlinchey, meanwhile, will be eligible to return in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints.

In the meantime, Matt Peart is presumably the next man up against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6, assuming Palczewski won’t be available.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals plan for Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals plan for Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line had a slight shake-up on Sunday night, as Wanya Morris started at left tackle.

During his weekly Monday Zoom press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the ongoing discussions surrounding the starting left tackle spot.

“I thought Wanya (Morris) did some good things in there, so we’ll probably stick with that same thing you saw, where Kingsley (Suamataia) rotated in and played some tight end,” said Reid. “So he was able to get some good reps in there, and then again, one day, had the good reps at the left tackle spot.

As Reid said, Suamataia was used sparingly in big formations, but it isn’t guaranteed that either player will swap for each other if necessary.

“So, do they both have stuff to work on? Yes, so we’ll keep their young guys in a tough position with a tough go here, and they’ve got another good one coming here this week,” said Reid. “So they’ve got a prep for a couple of good ones. So we’ve got to make sure we keep growing. But they’re surely getting tested early.”

The back-and-forth between two talented young players will likely be an ongoing discussion throughout the season.

Steelers signing former Broncos offensive tackle

The Steelers are signing former Broncos offensive tackle Calvin Anderson after losing Troy Fautanu to a knee injury.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, 28, after losing Troy Fautanu to a knee injury, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Anderson (6-5, 305 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas with the New England Patriots in 2019. After being waived by the Patriots, Anderson was picked up by the New York Jets, who placed him on their practice squad to begin the 2019 season.

The Denver Broncos signed Anderson off the Jets’ practice squad to their active roster four games into the 2019 campaign. He went on to spend the next three seasons with the Broncos, serving as a backup swing tackle.

Anderson dressed for 41 games in Denver, earning 12 starts. After his contract expired with the Broncos in 2023, Anderson returned to the Patriots. He appeared in five games last fall, earning two starts. New England released him from injured reserve in August and Anderson will now get a fresh start in Pittsburgh.

After losing Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury, Denver brought in tackles Braeden Daniels and Cameron Fleming for workouts but did not sign either of them. Alex Palczewski started in the place of McGlinchey on Sunday and he played well, so the Broncos seem set at the position for now.

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Broncos bring in familiar face for offensive line tryouts

The Broncos brought in Cam Fleming and Braeden Daniels for tryouts following the Mike McGlinchey injury.

After losing right tackle Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury, the Denver Broncos brought in two offensive linemen for tryouts on Thursday, including a familiar face.

The Broncos worked out Braeden Daniels and Cameron Fleming, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Both players have experience at right tackle.

Fleming (6-5, 320 pounds) played in Denver from 2021-2023. He started 20 games for the Broncos over three seasons, including 15 starts in 2022 (splitting time between right and left tackle). Fleming dressed for six games last fall and had one fill-in start. He has been a free agent since March.

Daniels (6-4, 297 pounds) played left tackle, left guard and right tackle at Utah before being picked by the Washington Commanders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff, Daniels failed to make Washington’s 53-man roster this summer.

Daniels then signed with the Houston Texans’ practice squad in August. He was cut on Tuesday and is now a free agent.

If the Broncos add an offensive tackle, they will need to make a corresponding move as the active roster and practice squad are both full going into the team’s Week 3 showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Alex Palczewski is the next man up for Broncos at right tackle

“We feel really strong about ‘Palcho’ and we’re moving forward,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said.

After losing Mike McGlinchey to an MCL injury for at least the next four games, the Denver Broncos are turning to Alex Palczewski as the next man up at right tackle.

“‘Palcho’ will take those snaps,” Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed after Wednesday’s practice.

Palczewski (6-6, 314 pounds) signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois last year. After suffering a hand injury last summer, Palczewski spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve. He was activated for the team’s season finale but did not play in the game.

“It’s part of our league,” Payton said of losing McGlinchey. “Certainly Mike is a veteran. ‘Palcho’ is one of those guys that he’s been competing. We’ll be smart relative to what we’re doing protection wise, but he’s played in a lot of football games. I know he’ll be excited about his first start.”

Palczewski spent six years at Illinois, playing in 64 games. He won the backup right tackle job this summer and he made his NFL debut last week, playing the final two snaps of the game after McGlinchey went down with a knee injury.

“Yeah, that’s going to affect us, but it’s next man up and we feel really strong about ‘Palcho’ and we’re moving forward,” quarterback Bo Nix said Wednesday when asked about losing McGlinchey.

Palczewski is poised to make his first NFL start when Denver goes on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.

“Obviously, it’s a new guy and we have to make sure he’s hearing the calls and make sure that you bring him up to speed as best as you can and help him out and not leave him out to dry,” Nix said. “I think, especially ‘Palcho’ with his experience, he’ll do a really good job of keeping that o-line going and continue that trajectory of it going.”

Matt Peart and Frank Crum will serve as the team’s backup tackles behind Garett Bolles and Palczewski on Sunday.

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Broncos place RT Mike McGlinchey on injured reserve

The Broncos have placed right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least four games.

The Denver Broncos have placed right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least the next four games.

The earliest McGlinchey would be eligible to return would be a Week 7 road game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football in mid-October.

Before that TNF matchup, the Broncos will have back-to-back road games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets followed by consecutive home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

Denver coach Sean Payton said after Wednesday’s practice that Alex Palczewski will be the next man up at right tackle. Palczewski spent his rookie season on injured reserve last fall. The Broncos might also consider signing a free agent, but at the time of publication, no outside tackles have been added to the mix.

McGlinchey, 29, signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with Denver last year. He started 16 games at right tackle in 2023.

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5 offensive tackles Broncos could sign to replace Mike McGlinchey

After losing Mike McGlinchey to an MCL injury, the Broncos should consider these free agent offensive tackles.

After losing right tackle Mike McGlinchey for “about a month” to a sprained MCL, the Denver Broncos must now find a replacement.

Matt Peart might be the in-house favorite to start while McGlinchey is sidelined, but the Broncos would be wise to at least bring in more depth at the position. Alex Palczewski filled in for McGlinchey for two snaps on Sunday, but those were the first two snaps of his career, and rookie Frank Crum was inactive for each of the team’s first two games this season.

Here’s a quick list of five outside players Denver could consider bringing in for workouts this week.

Free agent offensive tackles

1. Billy Turner: The 32-year-old vet had two previous stints with the Broncos and has experience at both tackle and guard.

2. Cam Fleming: Another ex-Denver tackle, the 32-year-old Fleming filled in for one game in 2023 and started 15 games in 2022.

3. D.J. Humphries: A 30-year-old former first-round pick who started 98 games for the Arizona Cardinals from 2016-2023, including 16 games last season.

4. Donovan Smith: He started 12 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. The 31-year-old former second-round pick won Super Bowls with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chiefs.

5. David Bakhtiari: The decorated 32-year-old veteran has struggled with injuries, playing just one game last season and one game in 2021. He was healthy for 11 games in 2022. If healthy, Bakhtiari would be an intriguing option for the Broncos.

Denver will likely bring in tackles for tryouts in the coming days. If McGlinchey is placed on injured reserve, that would free up a roster spot for a potential signing this week.

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Report: Broncos OT Mike McGlinchey out ‘about a month’ with MCL sprain

The Broncos will be without right tackle Mike McGlinchey for the next month, according to a report from NFL Network.

Denver Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey is expected to miss “about a month” after spraining his MCL during a 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Garafolo noted that evaluations are ongoing so the timeline “is somewhat fluid,” but the sprain is “significant,” so McGlinchey will miss time. If the Broncos believe the tackle is set to miss a month, they could place him on injured reserve to save a spot on the active roster. Players on IR are eligible to return after four games.

McGlinchey, 29, signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with Denver in 2023. He started 16 games last fall and the first two games of this season before suffering the MCL injury.

After previously losing top backup swing guard/tackle Quinn Bailey to a season-ending ankle injury, the top remaining backup tackle on the depth chart is Matt Peart, although it was Alex Palczewski who filled in for two snaps on Sunday. The Broncos also have and Frank Crum on the active roster and Will Sherman on the practice squad.

Denver wanted to re-sign Demontrey Jacobs to the practice squad in August, but he was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots after roster cuts.

The list of free agent offensive tackles available includes Cam Fleming, David Bakhtiari, Jason Peters and ex-Bronco Billy Turner. For now, Peart is probably the next man up in Denver.

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Broncos vs. Steelers injury report: Russell Wilson questionable for Week 2

Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) is questionable for Sunday’s game. Broncos WR Devaughn Vele (ribs) has been ruled out.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Elsewhere eon the injury front, left tackle Garett Bolles (calf), receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) have been cleared to play.

As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is listed as questionable for Week 2.

“If his availability is questionable, then starting is less so,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Wilson. If Wilson does not play on Sunday, Justin Fields will start against the Broncos.

Denver’s final injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Broncos vs. Steelers injury report

Player Injury Wed Thur Fri Game Status
WR Devaughn Vele Ribs DNP DNP DNP Out
OT Garett Bolles Calf DNP Limited Full
WR Josh Reynolds Achilles DNP Limited Full
C Luke Wattenberg Ankle DNP Limited Full
OLB Jonah Elliss Knee Limited Full Full

The Broncos also placed running back Audric Estime (ankle) on injured reserve earlier this week, ruling him out for at least four games.

Denver’s game against the Steelers will be regionally televised on CBS. The Broncos are considered betting underdogs despite playing at home.

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Broncos vs. Steelers injury report: Garett Bolles and Russell Wilson limited

Broncos LT Garett Bolles (calf) and Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) were both limited at their respective Thursday practices.

The Denver Broncos had three players return to practice on Thursday, including left tackle Garett Bolles (calf).

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) were also back on the field Thursday, but receiver Devaughn Vele (ribs) remained sidelined. After practice, Bolles indicated he’ll be ready to roll on Sunday.

As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) was limited again on Thursday. After practice, Wilson said he wants to play but knows he has to be smart with his injury.

Denver’s complete Thursday injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Broncos Thursday injury report

Player Injury Wed Thur Fri Game Status
OT Garett Bolles Calf DNP Limited
WR Josh Reynolds Achilles DNP Limited
WR Devaughn Vele Ribs DNP DNP
C Luke Wattenberg Ankle DNP Limited
OLB Jonah Elliss Knee Limited Full

Note that running back Audric Estime (ankle) does not appear on the injury report because he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

The Broncos will release a final injury report with game statuses after Friday’s practice.

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