Denver Broncos star safety Justin Simmons to miss “some” time

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 21: Justin Simmons #31 talks to Pat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos during a game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 21: Justin Simmons #31 talks to Pat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos during a game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Denver Broncos’ star safety Justin Simmons is set to miss “some time” according to head coach Nathaniel Hackett with a quad injury. What could the Broncos do to cover in the meantime?

It’s a devastating blow for the Denver Broncos, and for the first time in his starting career, Denver will have to put someone else in his shoes.  Simmons has been the ultimate player for Denver.  He rarely, if ever, comes off the field and always seems to stay healthy.

In Paton’s first offseason as the General Manager, he extended Justin Simmons, signing him to a deal worth over $60 million.  Simmons has continued to provide top-notch play since signing that deal.  Turning 29 this year, the seventh-year pro has not shown a single sign of slowing down.

What makes him even better and more valuable to the Broncos is the fact that he plays a position that isn’t as important as it once was, yet he’s still able to have an impact on the game.  Having an elite safety on the backend of a defense is a nice thing to have, but by no means is it a requirement like other positions.

So, what could the Denver Broncos do from here?  Well, they have Caden Sterns and PJ Locke as the primary backups, so they could see some increased action.  Sterns has done well in his limited appearances on the field.  Another option could be to sign a free agent.

One that comes to mind is Landon Collins, which might not make a ton of sense, though.  Collins struggles in coverage, which could be a problem, considering Kareem Jackson also struggles in coverage.  However, Collins is a hybrid player who could also help closer to the line of scrimmage.

I think since this is such a devastating (and only temporary) loss, the Broncos still should look to bring a fresh face in.  If they want to show that they’re serious about competing for a championship, making a notable roster move is the way to go.