The Broncos have not been this injured on their offensive line during coach Sean Payton’s two years in Denver.
Last year, their starting offensive line stayed healthy until Week 18, when right tackle Mike McGlinchey was ruled out with a rib injury.
Now, the Broncos (3-2) might have to play with their third-string right tackle and backup center on Sunday when they face the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) in an important AFC West game.
The team is getting center Alex Forsyth and right tackle Matt Peart ready to start against the Chargers’ strong defensive line. They lost right tackle Alex Palczewski and center Luke Wattenberg to sprained ankles during their 34-18 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
Palczewski had been performing well in place of McGlinchey, who is out with a knee injury but could return next week. Peart stepped in for him on Sunday and played almost two-thirds of the game.
Wattenberg got hurt during Bo Nix’s quarterback sneak for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Forsyth finished the game at center.
The backups did well, and the Broncos’ message this week is that they will keep calling plays as usual, no matter who is on the field in front of Nix.
“They both played well,” Payton said about Forsyth and Peart. “… I’m glad we have that kind of depth and experience. Certainly, Matt has more experience than Alex, but it’s kind of just part of our business. Guys stepped up and immediately filled in and did their job.”
Nix said on Wednesday that he feels confident in the depth of the offensive line.
“They practice hard no matter what lineup is in the game,” Nix said. “They go out there and practice hard, and we get all the reps we need so we can go into a game feeling comfortable.
Those guys do a great job; they’re hard workers, talented players, and they do what they need to do to give me a clean pocket and keep me protected.”
