The Denver Broncos ruled several players out on Friday for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans. What types of impacts will the absences make?
The Broncos host the Houston Texans in Denver on Sunday. On Friday, the team released its injury report. Four players were ruled out.
Denver will be without three key defensive players. Linebacker Brandon Marshall will be inactive with a knee injury. Safety Darian Stewart (neck), and cornerback Bradley Roby (ankle) are also out. Wide receiver Daesean Hamilton will be inactive with a knee injury.
Marshall, a big part of the middle of the defense, has 33 tackles on the season. With Marshall out, rookie Josey Jewell should see some extensive playing time. Jewell, the team’s fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft, made five tackles last week against the Kansas City Chiefs and has 22 total tackles on the season.
Linebacker Alexander Johnson will also make his NFL debut on Sunday.
Stewart, the team’s starting strong safety, will be replaced by Will Parks, a third-year player.
23-year old safety Su’a Cravens, formerly of the Washington Redskins, will also be active for the game. Cravens was put on short-term injured reserve earlier this year and was activated for Sunday’s game, his first week of eligibility.
Cornerback Bradley Roby injured his ankle and the injury was serious enough for the team to have to rule him out against Houston.
Roby’s absence may be the most noticeable. The Broncos traded wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to Houston on Tuesday. The Texans already have a star receiver in DeAndre Hopkins.
Chris Harris Jr is likely to be lined up against Thomas, and Tramaine Brock is immediately behind Roby on the Broncos’ depth chart.
It remains to be seen how much playing time Thomas will get after being with the Texans for just a short period of time, but it could end badly for Denver.
On the offensive side of the ball, the loss of Daesean Hamilton at wide receiver was the reason the Broncos promoted wide receiver River Cracraft from the practice squad and released receiver Isaiah McKenzie in a corresponding move.
With Hamilton out, the Broncos will be with just four wide receivers on Sunday.
Rookie running back Royce Freeman was listed as questionable on Friday for the game with an ankle injury. Freeman’s injury leaves Devontae Booker and Phillip Lindsay in the backfield.
Although it seems unlikely that the team would do so, they could bring back a familiar name. Running back De’Angelo Henderson, a 2017 sixth-round pick by the Broncos, was released by the New York Jets on Friday.
I think that it’s definitely something they should explore.
The Broncos will try and get back on track and get a victory on Sunday. The season hasn’t gone as planned, but they have to take it one week at a time.