Undrafted second-year tackle Alex Palczewski is getting ready for his first NFL start after the Denver Broncos put starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey on injured reserve on Monday due to a knee injury.
The Broncos (0-2) are set to face the three-time defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) this weekend, who are off to a strong start.
McGlinchey injured his left MCL in the final minutes of the Broncos’ 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and Palczewski played the last two snaps of that game.
Palczewski started 65 games over six seasons at the University of Illinois. He was one of four undrafted free agents to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster after training camp last year, but a hand injury kept him on injured reserve for most of his rookie season. He spent the offseason training with McGlinchey in Denver.
“Mike McGlinchey has helped me tenfold since I’ve gotten here to improve,” Palczewski said Wednesday. “He’s helping me figure out that stuff and just getting to pick his brain and how he thinks and how he goes about his process, it’s been an awesome chance to have.”
McGlinchey will be out for at least four games, with Week 7 against New Orleans being the earliest he can return.
“Yeah, that’s going to affect us,” rookie quarterback Bo Nix said. “But it’s next man up and we feel really strong about ‘Palcho’ and what he’ll do for us.”
During training camp, coach Sean Payton praised Palczewski’s intelligence and efficiency, saying, “There are maybe some things athletically he’s not as gifted at, yet when the pads come on and you get into these live reps or somewhat live reps, you check the box and say, ‘He does his job.’”
