Tag: Right Tackle

Does Mike Tomlin need to bench RT Broderick Jones again?

Broderick Jones’ penalty woes continued in Week 8, taking an opening-drive TD off the board. Does HC Mike Tomlin need to intervene again?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. While the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive unit appears much more dynamic under Russell Wilson’s leadership, issues on the offensive line continue to hold the offense back.

Specifically, several backup offensive linemen are stepping up in a big way for the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet 2023 first-round draft pick RT Broderick Jones is struggling, arguably making him the weakest link on offense. In 2024, Jones has had issues in all aspects of blocking, with penalties being his greatest weakness. 

On a key play during the Steelers’ Week 8 opening drive, Wilson rolled out to his right and connected with WR George Pickens for a touchdown, only to have it nullified by a face mask penalty from Jones. The penalty yardage proved too much to overcome, forcing the offense to settle for a field goal. 

Jones was benched earlier in the year by HC Mike Tomlin for similar issues, and the team may need to consider it again to prevent the offense’s momentum from stalling.

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Broncos open window for 2 starters to return from injured reserve

The Broncos have opened the 21-day window for OT Mike McGlinchey (MCL) and OLB Baron Browning (foot) to return from injured reserve.

The Denver Broncos opened the 21-day window for two starters to return from injured reserve on Tuesday.

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) and outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) returned to practice on Tuesday, which started their three-week window to return to the active roster.

If McGlinchey and Browning are not activated within the next 21 days, they will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Both players seem likely to be activated before the deadline, but it remains to be seen if they will be activated in time for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 17.

McGlinchey will likely immediately return to starting at right tackle once he returns. Browning, on the other hand, might be a rotational pass rusher because Nik Bonitto has played so well across from Jonathon Cooper.

The Broncos also opened the three-week window for cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) to return from IR last week, so he is a candidate to return in Week 7 as well. Denver currently has two open spots on the active roster after cutting two players on Tuesday.

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Broncos center goes on injured reserve; right tackle avoids IR

The Broncos placed center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve on Saturday. Alex Forsyth is the next man up.

The Denver Broncos placed center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve on Saturday with an ankle injury, the team announced.

Wattenberg will now have to sit out at least four games before being eligible to return from IR. On deck for the Broncos are games against the Los Angeles Chargers (home), New Orleans Saints (away), Carolina Panthers (home) and Baltimore Ravens (away).

The earliest Wattenberg would be eligible to return would be for a Week 10 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on the road on Nov. 10. Alex Forsyth is set to start at center while Wattenberg is sidelined.

The good news for Denver is that right tackle Alex Palczewski has avoided IR, but he’s still ruled out for this week’s game. The Broncos are expected to replace Palczewski in the starting lineup with Matt Peart on Sunday. Next week, right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) will be eligible to return from IR and reclaim his starting role.

Denver’s game against Los Angeles will be regionally televised on CBS. Despite playing at home with a three-game winning streak, the Broncos are considered underdogs against the Chargers this week.

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Broncos place practice squad OT Will Sherman on injury list

The Broncos placed OT Will Sherman (ankle) on their practice squad injury list on Tuesday.

The offensive line injuries keep coming for the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos placed backup offensive tackle Will Sherman (ankle) on the team’s practice squad injury list on Tuesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. The injury happened during practice last week.

Sherman (6-4, 300 pounds) joined the Broncos in 2022 after previously competing on the practice squad of the New England Patriots in 2021. He spent last season on Denver’s practice squad and is yet to make his NFL debut.

The Broncos also lost fill-in starting right tackle Alex Palczewski and starting center Luke Wattenberg to ankle injuries this week. Denver signed tackle Cam Fleming and center Dieter Eiselen to the practice squad to add more depth while Palczewski and Wattenberg are sidelined.

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) will be eligible to return from injured reserve next week. In the meantime, Matt Peart (right tackle) and Alex Forsyth (center) are likely the next men up on the offensive line.

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Broncos bringing back familiar face at offensive tackle

After losing right tackle Alex Palczewski to an ankle injury, the Broncos are signing veteran Cam Fleming to their practice squad.

After losing right tackle Alex Palczewski to an ankle injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the Denver Broncos are bringing back a familiar face to provide more depth on the offensive line.

The Broncos are signing veteran swing tackle Cam Fleming to their practice squad, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Fleming (6-5, 320 pounds) worked out for Denver last month after the team lost Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury.

McGlinchey will be eligible to return from injured reserve next week. In the meantime, Matt Peart will likely be the next man up at right tackle if Palczewski is not able to play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

Fleming, 32, played for the Broncos from 2021-2023, splitting time between right tackle and left tackle. He started 20 games in three seasons.

Palczewski and center Luke Wattenberg both suffered ankle injuries against the Raiders. Denver coach Sean Payton was not forthcoming when asked about the offensive line injuries on Monday.

“We’ll see how the week unfolds relative to our own guys,” Payton said.

NFL Network reported on Sunday that Palczewski is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain. If that report is accurate, Palczewski might be a candidate for a four-game stint on IR.

The Broncos are also set to sign wide receiver Kaden Davis to its practice squad this week. Denver will have to make a pair of corresponding moves to make room for Fleming and Davis on the 17-player practice squad.

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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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Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski filling in well for Mike McGlinchey

Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski filled in well for an injured Mike McGlinchey last week. He’s set to start the next three games.

After losing starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury, the Denver Broncos turned to second-year lineman Alex Palczewski.

Palczewski performed well in his first NFL start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver’s offensive line kept quarterback Bo Nix clean. The offense moved the ball efficiently and Nix did not take any sacks in a 26-7 victory.

Palczewski spent six years at Illinois, ending his college career with an FBS-record 65 starts. Broncos coach Sean Payton believes that extensive college experience has helped the lineman quickly adjust to playing in the NFL

“Pretty good, pretty good,” Payton said this week when asked how Palczewski looked on film against the Bucs. “Really well. First start. He did a lot of things well. He’s smart. He’s played a lot of football games. So we’re fortunate to have someone with, I know it’s not pro experience, but you felt it in the game.”

Joe Lombardi, Denver’s offensive coordinator, echoed Payton’s assessment.

“[He looked] really good,” Lombardi said. “He’s a little bit like Bo [Nix]. He’s one of those guys that had a ton of starts in college. He’s an experienced guy. It’s a phrase that gets thrown around, ‘He’s a football player.’ He’s a guy that knows what he’s good at, where his limitations are, and he’s one of those players that especially sticks out on the offensive line where they know how to play according to the opponent they’re facing, according to the talents that they have.

“He’s just one of those guys that doesn’t just go out there and play. He’s got a plan and that comes from the experience he’s had in college and a year in the program. We have a lot of confidence in him. I think he played very well on Sunday, and I think he had a lot of fun.”

Palczewski will make his second career start against the New York Jets on Sunday. New York’s defense features edge rusher Will McDonald, who has totaled five sacks through the first three games of the season. After passing his first test in Week 3, Palczewski will face a tougher test in Week 4.

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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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