The Denver Broncos are sitting at 2-3 following a crushing overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night and it is starting to feel like the sky is falling in Broncos Country.
Things were not supposed to go this way for this year’s Broncos squad. This was supposed to be a return to prominence with a competent starting quarterback on the roster. But that has not been the case. In fact, it may be worse than ever.
But it is only Week 5 and the team still has 12 more games to play. It has been incredibly ugly but if the team decides to throw in the towel now, things could get much, much worse, especially when you consider that the Seattle Seahawks own the team’s top two draft picks in 2023.
The Broncos will have 11 days between games before facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 in what could be a make-or-break game for this season. With the season-ending injuries suffered by Garett Bolles and Ronald Darby on Thursday night, general manager George Paton should hit the free-agent market to see what he can come up with.
Here are some options.
Broncos should consider Eric Fisher, Tackle
The Broncos finally got Billy Turner back in the lineup but when Garett Bolles went down with a broken leg, the team was left with just Turner, Cam Fleming and Calvin Anderson as its options at tackle.
All three of those guys are likely better as rotational guys rather than every-week starters but the team has no choice but to play them more at this point. It should be Anderson who replaces Bolles at left tackle, but the Broncos should look at a veteran as an insurance policy.
Eric Fisher was once the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. He was still the starting left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs when they faced the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game ahead of Super Bowl LV but he suffered a torn Achilles in that game and had to miss the Super Bowl.
Fisher spent the 2021 season with the Colts but was released in the offseason.
Fisher’s best days are behind him now at 31 years old, but he is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and would bring a veteran presence that could step in if Anderson falters.