Denver Broncos: Derek Wolfe, Josey Jewell questionable for Jaguars

The Denver Broncos may have to play without starters Derek Wolfe and Josey Jewell on Sunday against the Jaguars. They will be questionable for the game.

The Denver Broncos may be without starting defensive end Derek Wolfe and starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell against the Jacksonville Jaguars after both suffered injuries against the Green Bay Packers last weekend.

Wolfe was carted off in the first half with a high ankle sprain, and according to his wife, Abigail, on Instagram, he was already playing with the other ankle sprained before suffering the new injury against the Packers.

Wolfe is and has always been a tough dude, no doubt about that. Vic Fangio said at his Wednesday press conference that he’s got a ‘chance’ to play this weekend despite the initial prognosis showing Wolfe would miss at least a little bit of time.

Wolfe has had some ugly sprained ankles in the past, so he’s probably used to dealing with this kind of pain. We’ll see how he does this week at practice, but he’s expected to be ‘questionable’ all week, per Fangio, and whether or not he plays will be a matter of pain tolerance on game day most likely.

Linebacker Josey Jewell is another situation entirely.

He’s dealing with a hamstring injury, and those can linger longer than most players would like.

Jewell is another tough dude but the Broncos did just get Todd Davis back, so they will at least have one of their originally planned starters out there every game so far this season.

Just like Wolfe, Jewell is expected to be listed as questionable all week and they’ll see whether or not he can play. Fangio didn’t use the same ‘he’s got a chance’ diagnosis with Jewell as he did with Wolfe, but if he’s questionable there’s always a chance he plays.

If Wolfe is out…

If the Broncos don’t have Wolfe in the lineup, they will rotate between DeMarcus Walker, rookie Dre’Mont Jones, and we might even see Mike Purcell on the gameday roster again this week.

Behind the starters Wolfe, Shelby Harris, and Adam Gotsis, it’s been Walker who’s seen the most playing time (55 snaps in three games).

If Jewell is out…

When the Broncos were without Todd Davis, Corey Nelson took the lion’s share of snaps opposite Josey Jewell. The Broncos also have Alexander Johnson, Keishawn Bierria, Joe Jones, and Justin Hollins on the roster capable of playing inside linebacker.

Nelson has played 85 snaps in the first three games, but the Broncos did start giving more looks to Hollins last week.

I would be surprised if Jewell doesn’t play if the top replacement isn’t Nelson this week, unless Joe Jones is ready to play.

The Jaguars are a team that certainly prefers if their running game is firing on all cylinders, especially with a rookie at the quarterback position. Even though they’re comfortable with Gardner Minshew back there throwing, they’d probably love to establish the run against the Broncos.

Wolfe and Jewell are two of Denver’s best run defenders.