Denver Broncos starting safety and emerging stud Justin Simmons will reportedly be going on injured reserve with an ankle injury…
NFL Network reporter James Palmer is breaking news out of Denver that Justin Simmons, the Denver Broncos’ starting safety, will be going on injured reserve for the final three games of the season.
Simmons suffered an ankle injury on a freak accident when celebrating Brandon Marshall’s strip-sack of Josh McCown in the Broncos’ 23-0 win over the Jets.
The loss of Simmons was discussed earlier this week here at Predominantly Orange…
I’m told not only will #broncos safety Justin Simmons miss Thursday’s game vs the #colts with a left ankle injury, the team will also be placing him on injured reserve.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 13, 2017
Simmons had been one of the Broncos’ top breakout players this year, and was enjoying a very good sophomore season for Denver prior to this injury. He scored a touchdown on a pick-six in the Broncos’ loss to the Miami Dolphins, and matched his season total from 2016 with two interceptions in 13 games in 2017.
When Simmons went down against the Jets, he was replaced in the lineup by fellow class of 2016 member Will Parks, who will pick up the slack the rest of the season.
Take a look at Simmons’ injured ankle:
Broncos S Justin Simmons will not play Thursday because of his ankle sprain, which ... ugh (via @tarynsimmons_ snap) pic.twitter.com/9r7XZKfDqH
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 13, 2017
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It doesn’t look too dissimilar from the injury we saw Derek Wolfe suffer this year at training camp, which put him out for a few weeks. The logic behind placing Simmons on injured reserve is pretty simple and sensible:
No reason to rush him back in a season where you aren’t competing for the playoffs.
The Broncos would be wise to make sure any player that is injured is not rushed back this season for risk of further injury. Simmons is an example of that. If there’s any chance he’s out a minimum of three weeks, just put him on injured reserve and let someone else play.
Speaking of someone else…
In keeping with the theme of this season, it seems likely the Broncos will promote safety Dymonte Thomas from the practice squad to replace Simmons. Thomas is an undrafted player out of Michigan who showed well in preseason play, taking an interception back for a touchdown of his own.
No moves have been announced by the Broncos as of yet.