Loss of Randy Gregory another crushing blow for Broncos

The loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4 continues to get worse and worse for the Denver Broncos as the team lost much more than just a game on Sunday.

While the Raiders got their first win of the season, the Broncos dropped to 2-2. But it was injuries to Javonte Williams and Randy Gregory that could prove to be much more costly.

The Broncos not only lost their starting running back, Javonte Williams, for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, but Randy Gregory, the team’s top free-agent signing this offseason is also going to need surgery.

It was initially feared that Gregory could have suffered the same injury during Sunday’s loss, but he escaped a torn ACL. Gregory will still require arthroscopic knee surgery and could miss up to six weeks.

Gregory has been terrific since joining the Broncos and has been one of the most impactful players on defense through the first four games. He has two sacks and two forced fumbles on the year and has put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

He has done exactly what he was brought in to do and he seemed to be just hitting his stride. The Broncos will go to Baron Browning to replace him in the lineup, but second-round pick Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, as soon as he is healthy, will need to step up as well.

The Broncos have had a turbulent first year under new head coach Nathaniel Hackett thus far and are quite fortunate to be sitting at .500 right now. But these two injuries are going to prove particularly difficult to overcome.

If Gregory does indeed miss six weeks, he could be out all the way until the next time the Broncos face the Raiders on November 20.

The Broncos have a short turnaround this week and will host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football.