Tag: Quinn Meinerz

Broncos roster series: No. 77, OL Quinn Meinerz

Entering his third season, “The Belly” (Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz) will aim to start all 17 games for the first time in his career.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz, No. 77.

Before the Broncos: Meinerz played college football at Wisconsin–Whitewater. Despite playing at a Division III school, Meinerz caught the attention of NFL teams with his impressive film (and unique outdoor workouts). After a standout performance at the Senior Bowl, Meinerz was picked by the Broncos in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Broncos tenure: Nicknamed “The Belly,” Meinerz quickly became a fan favorite for “letting the belly breathe” at practice. He dressed for 15 games as a rookie, earning nine starts. Last year, Meinerz was healthy for 13 games and started all of them, allowing 3.5 sacks, according to STATS LLC.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Meinerz is a lock to make the team this summer. Following the arrival of left guard Ben Powers, Meinerz is expected to serve as the team’s starting right guard in 2023. Meinerz can also play center, but Denver seems to view him primarily as a guard. The 24-year-old offensive lineman will aim to start all 17 games for the first time in his career this fall.

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Broncos position preview for 2023: Offensive line

The Broncos’ offensive line looks much better on paper now than it did in 2022.

After signing guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey during free agency and drafting center Alex Forsyth in April, the Denver Broncos now have 16 offensive linemen on the 90-man offseason roster: Lloyd Cushenberry, Kyle Fuller, Luke Wattenberg, Forsyth, Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Henry Byrd, Will Sherman, Garett Bolles, McGlinchey, Quinn Bailey, Cam Fleming, Isaiah Prince, Christian DiLauro, Demontrey Jacobs and Alex Palczewski.

Bolles and Meinerz are returning as locked-in starters at their spots and Cushenberry is the incumbent at center, but he will face some competition this summer. Powers and McGlinchey will instantly jump to the top of the depth chart at their respective positions.

Broncos’ (Projected) Offensive Line Depth Chart

Broncos get B+ grade for signing guard Ben Powers

Touchdown Wire gave the Broncos a B+ grade for signing guard Ben Powers during NFL free agency.

The Denver Broncos addressed one of their biggest needs right away in free agency with the addition of interior offensive lineman Ben Powers.

Powers agreed to a four-year contract worth $52 million, with $28.5 million in guaranteed money, on Monday.

Powers established himself as a force in the run and pass game with the Baltimore Ravens from 2018-2022. In 2022, Powers allowed just one sack, one quarterback hit, and 11 quarterback hurries in 633 pass-blocking reps, according to Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

Farrar dubbed Powers “an absolute mauler,” and he gave the Broncos a B+ grade for the signing. 

It is expected that Powers will slot into the starting offensive line alongside Garett Bolles at left tackle, Lloyd Cushenberry at center, Quinn Meinerz at right guard and newly acquired tackle Mike McGlinchey at right tackle.

Provided the group stays healthy, this should be a formidable front to protect quarterback Russell Wilson, who was sacked a career-high 55 times last year. Bringing in Powers was a big win for head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton.

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Broncos fans will love to hear what Quinn Meinerz had to say about the Chiefs

Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz is sick of losing to the Chiefs, and his No. 1 goal for 2023 is to beat KC.

Denver Broncos players were made available to media members in the locker room on Monday following the team’s season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz spoke with KOA Radio’s Brandon Krisztal about the 2022 season and his goals for the 2023 campaign. The second-year offensive lineman has one big goal that will be music to the ears of fans in Denver.

“I’ve said it before: I’m sick of losing to the Chiefs,” Meinerz said. “That is like, my No. 1 goal — that I’m going to be looking at every day — is I really want to beat them.”

The Chiefs have won 15-straight games against the Broncos dating back to 2015, and Denver is 0-4 against KC since Meinerz joined the team in 2021. Meinerz, much like Broncos fans, can’t hide his disdain for the Chiefs.

“I’m going to say it because it’s on my chest — the fact that they did that little Ring Around the Rosie play against the Raiders like, genuinely, like pissed me off. And I’m just excited for that day and for that moment [that we beat them]. And that’s one of the things that I’m preparing for going into next year, is to be ready to beat them.”

Since drafting Meinerz, Denver has lost to KC by 13, 4, 6 and 3 points over the last four meetings.

“We’ve played them very close, at least for the last two years that I’ve been here, and I’m excited to eventually be on the other side of that. Because I’m sick of it just like everyone else is.”

For now, talk of beating the Chiefs is just that — talk. But Meinerz and his teammates have set a clear goal for 2023, and Broncos fans would love to see them accomplish it next season.

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Broncos inactives: Josey Jewell won’t play vs. Texans

Broncos inactives: LB Josey Jewell (calf), WR KJ Hamler (knee/hip), OL Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), OL Billy Turner (knee), OLB Nik Bonitto, WR Jalen Virgil and DL Eyioma Uwazurike.

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The Denver Broncos have announced their list of inactive players for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell (calf), wide receiver KJ Hamler (knee/hip), guard Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), tackle Billy Turner (knee), outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, wide receiver Jalen Virgil and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike won’t play against the Texans.

With Hamler and Meinerz unavailable, Denver elevated wide receiver Kendall Hinton and offensive lineman Netane Muti from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 2.

Graham Glasgow is expected to start in the place of Meinerz on the offensive line. Alex Singleton will start in the place of Jewell.

Hinton and Montrell Washington are among the candidates to fill Hamler’s role in the slot against Houston.

Denver outside linebacker Randy Gregory (shoulder/knee), defensive lineman DeShawn Williams (back) and cornerback K’Waun Williams (wrist) are all active after being listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.

Sunday’s game will begin at 2:25 p.m. MT on CBS (view the TV map).

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Broncos injuries: Quinn Meinerz expected to miss 4 weeks

Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz is expected to miss about four weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Denver Broncos lost guard Quinn Meinerz (hamstring) and slot cornerback K’Waun Williams (hand) to injuries during Monday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Meinerz will be sidelined for “about” four weeks after straining his hamstring, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Meinerz left the game in the first half and was replaced by veteran Graham Glasgow, who played 48 snaps. Glasgow was not penalized and was not credited with allowing any sacks against the Seahawks.

Glasgow will likely start while Meinerz is sidelined. Denver also has Netane Muti available on the practice squad, and offensive lineman Billy Turner can play both as a tackle and as a guard (once he’s healthy).

As for Williams, his status is less certain. If he has to miss any time, the list of candidates to replace Williams in the slot likely includes safety Caden Sterns, rookie Damarri Mathis, veteran Darius Phillips and practice squad cornerback Essang Bassey.

We’ll know more on Williams and the team’s other injuries after the Broncos release their initial Week 2 injury report on Wednesday.

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Broncos’ offensive line competition could drag out into preseason

Who will the Broncos start on the OL this year? That’s tough to predict because the competition’s just getting started.

Who’s going to start on the offensive line for the Denver Broncos this season?

Your guess is as good as ours.

The Broncos have multiple options at every position on the line but only four starting spots up for grabs. Right now, it only seems safe to say one job — Garett Bolles at left tackle — is a lock.

At guard, Denver’s list of candidates includes Graham Glasgow, Dalton Risner, Quinn Meinerz, Netane Muti and rookie Luke Wattenberg. Five players competing for two spots.

At center, Lloyd Cushenberry is the incumbent, but Meinerz, Glasgow and Wattenberg could all push him for the starting job due to their versatility.

At right tackle, Billy Turner and Tom Compton will be competing with Calvin Anderson to replace Bobby Massie, who started in 2021.

With a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach and a new blocking scheme, the Broncos could see several shakeups on the offensive line this summer, so projecting a starting lineup is tough this early in the offseason.

It might not get much easier to predict until the end of preseason, either, because Denver’s staff has a big competition planned.

“It’s going to be a competitive environment in that room all the way through training camp,” offensive coordinator Justin Outten said on June 14. “Like I’ve said before, when the pads come on, that’s traditionally when you start to see the movement and you see the solidification up front. That’s when you get an idea of who your guys are going to be.”

Outten wouldn’t give a timeline for when the starting five would be chosen other than to say “ideally” it will be decided by Week 1. May the best five win.

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Quinn Meinerz, Broncos’ offensive line ready for Russell Wilson to extend plays

Russell Wilson keeps plays alive with his feet, which will keep Denver’s offensive linemen on their toes.

A staple of newly-acquired Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson‘s game is his ability to extend the play, execute off-schedule throws and scramble if need be, something guard/center Quinn Meinerz and the rest of the offensive line are preparing for.

Cliche, yes, but the truth. Once discriminated against because of his height, Wilson’s style of play is at the forefront of the league.

Falling to the third round of the 2012 NFL draft, Wilson’s ability to be part pocket pass, part mobile threat is what every NFL team looks for in their QB now. Nowadays, it’s not so rare as young QBs such as Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Fields, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Trey Lance and (possibly) Jalen Hurts populating the league.

Maybe Wilson’s just ahead of his time in a league slow to catch up. Of course, I’m remiss not to mention Michael Vick who truly was at least a decade ahead of the league’s direction.

With Wilson’s style of play at the forefront, the Broncos’ offensive line is ready for it. “In the offensive line room, it’s ‘We have to block until the ball’s gone,'” Meinerz said last week. “There isn’t like, ‘Alright, we’re blocking for three seconds.’

“We have to block until the ball is gone, and whatever that requires and whatever you have to do is what we have to do. Especially with some of the special abilities that Russ has to evade the pocket and move things, there’s no other option. You have to keep blocking until the ball is gone. That’s the overall mentality there.”

While the final product unveils itself from Week 1 onward for the Wilson-led Broncos offense, it’s certain that Broncos Country gets to enjoy great football next season. The Broncos face off against the aforementioned Lance-led 49ers, the Chargers and Chiefs twice apiece, Jackson’s Ravens and Murray’s Cardinals. The latter doubles as a Vance Joseph reunion as well.

Football’s fun again in Denver.

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Broncos rookie guard Quinn Meinerz went viral after impressive block on SNF

A video of Broncos rookie guard blowing up Chiefs defender Melvin Ingram already has more than 1.3 million views.

Denver Broncos rookie right guard Quinn Meinerz showed off his impressive blocking power during a “Sunday Night Football” showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13.

On a run play in the second quarter, Meinerz (No. 77) pulled from the right side and met Chiefs defensive lineman Melvin Ingram (No. 24) at the line of scrimmage. Meinerz then drove him about 10 yards downfield before turning his attention toward another defender.

Warren Sharp of NBC Sports recorded the play and shared it on Twitter. At the time of this writing, the viral video has been viewed more than 1.3 million times.

Meinerz (6-3, 320 pounds) was selected by the Broncos in the third round of April’s NFL draft after playing college football at UW–Whitewater. Despite playing Division III football, Meinerz caught the attention of NFL scouts (which is no surprise given the above clip).

When his 2020 college season was canceled due to COVID-19, Meinerz took a unique approach to stay in shape, working out outdoors and posting videos of his routine online (those videos also went viral).

Meinerz quickly became a fan favorite in Denver thanks in part to his habit of “letting the belly breathe” at spring practice. The big-bellied offensive lineman will continue endearing himself to fans if he blocks like this every week.

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10 small-school prospects for the Eagles to consider in the 2021 NFL Draft

10 small-school prospects for the Eagles to consider in the 2021 NFL Draft

The Eagles are no strangers to targeting small school players in the NFL draft and the results have mostly been positive.

The Eagles used the 2016 Senior Bowl to analyze Carson Wentz and Howie Roseman used the No. 2 pick on the former North Dakota State star.

Dallas Goedert, Todd Herreman, Jeremiah Trotter, and Brian Westbrook also make the list.

There have been plenty of small-school gems drafted over the years and with the Eagles in need of some retooling, here are 10 sleeper prospects who could interest the Birds.