Denver Broncos: DL Adam Gotsis to IR with free agency looming
Denver Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis is heading to injured reserve, leaving his future with the team in doubt after 2019.
The Denver Broncos are pretty banged up on the defensive line this year, and former second-round pick Adam Gotsis is the latest to fall victim to the injury bug.
The Broncos are placing Gotsis on season-ending injured reserve after the defensive end had a procedure done on his knee in the last week.
When Denver drafted Gotsis out of Georgia Tech in 2016, he was expected to be the replacement for Malik Jackson, who bolted for Jacksonville in free agency. After a tough rookie season, Gotsis had solid second and third seasons with Denver before Vic Fangio came to town in 2019.
Gotsis said on his Twitter page that everything with his procedure went well.
Couples of days post surgery now and have been thinking how amazing it is to have the opportunity to play this game! To all my followers and supporters I want to thank you guys for the msgs and prayers! Can’t wait to finally be healthy and be back on that field in 2020! LETS GO!
— Adam Gotsis (@gotsis96) December 23, 2019
Gotsis started 25 games between 2017 and 2018 when Vance Joseph was head coach of the Broncos, and he actually played quite well statistically, and improved as a pass rusher while providing some stability as a run defender.
He had five sacks from 2017-18, but didn’t have any in 2016 or 2019.
Injuries and inconsistent play led to Gotsis only playing nine games in a contract year with the Broncos, including three starts. He had no sacks, no quarterback hits, and just one tackle for loss this season.
This past season certainly put Gotsis’ future with the Broncos in doubt. He was a second-round pick of the team, albeit a very late second-round pick, but didn’t really live up to the billing of a player taken in the top 64 of the NFL Draft.
Whether or not he returns to Denver next season is completely dependent on what he feels his price point is and what role the team would envision for him next season.
The Broncos made a couple of corresponding roster moves with Gotsis heading to IR.
We've promoted OL Quinn Bailey to the active roster & placed DL Adam Gotsis on injured reserve.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 24, 2019
Quinn Bailey was primarily a right tackle in his time at Arizona State, and with Elijah Wilkinson suffering a sprained ankle against the Lions last Sunday, the Broncos may need some reinforcements up front.
Jake Rodgers will likely start the game unless for whatever reason Ja’Wuan James decides he’s ready to go, and the Broncos will have either Bailey or Calvin Anderson available as the backup swing tackle in case Wilkinson can’t go.
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In addition to calling up Bailey, the Broncos signed offensive tackle Ka’John Armstrong, a rookie from Eastern Michigan, to the practice squad.