Donald Stephenson won this job out of camp but the Broncos didn’t draft Ty Sambrailo in the 2nd round to sit him behind a good but not great veteran. Stephenson proved more than capable against Carolina and Indianapolis, but went down to injury and may not get his job back.
Sambrailo’s first start at a new position in Cincinnati after his yearlong injury layoff was not pretty. He face-planted swinging as the lone blocker to the outside on a crucial third down run inside the five, and had it not been for Ryan Fitzpatrick doling out interceptions like Halloween candy, he would have been Pro Football Focus’ worst player from week 3.
On Sunday against the Buccaneers, PFF graded him as the 2nd best offensive Bronco (more on who was 1st later), ahead of Emmanuel Sanders, Russell Okung, and Matt Paradis.
If the Sambrailo from Tampa Bay is the guy we can expect, Donald Stephenson will be relegated to the bench; if the dude in Cincinnati is the real Sambrailo, well at least Stephenson has proven himself as an adequate to good option.