Broncos final injury report: Pat Bryant's return, depth on defense tested

For the most part, the Denver Broncos have stayed healthy this year, but they have dealt with a good bit of injuries to primary depth, rotational players. We have already seen Jonah Coleman spent time on IR. Tyler Badie and RJ Harvey are both on IR, along with Jonah Elliss.

The team has also seen Pat Bryant be placed on IR. Patrick Surtain II just recently missed time as well. All in all, Denver is certainly no strangers to injuries this year, but, for the most part, the primary starters are healthy and in a good spot.

The Broncos play the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, and it's the team's final game before the Week 10 bye, which comes at a perfect time. The team's final injury report does test the depth of this defense but also sees the return of a key rotational player on offense.

Denver Broncos final injury report for Week 9 against the Panthers

All of Dondrea Tillman, Talanoa Hufanga, Kris Abrams-Draine, Brandon Jones, and Eyioma Uwazurike are either out or questionable in Week 9:

Even with Bryant being listed as questionable, he'll play in Week 9:

Hufanga's return will be the key to watch, and if you look at Denver's injury report from Week 8, there seems to be a good chance that the starting safety returns:

In this practice week, Hufanga went DNP, Limited, and Limited and is listed as questionable. Just last week, the Broncos saw both Zach Allen and Jaylen Waddle have the exact same practice week, and both were also listed as questionable. Both played, so there is reason to believe that the Broncos took Hufanga's practice statuses this week with the same idea in mind.

It does flat-out stink that the Broncos are going to still be down a starting safety with a likely Hufanga return. Jones hurt his hamstring during the win over Kansas City in Week 8 and did not practice all week.

In an ideal world, both Tillman and Hufanga suit up. If not, the depth of this defense is going to be tested big-time. The offense is clearly much healthier, as every one of the primary starters are healthy enough to play.

I guess if we had to 'pick' one side to be hurt more, it would be the defense given how good this unit has been for years now, but that doesn't make this week's report any less shaky. The Broncos getting a win in Week 9. moving to 7-2, and having two weeks off would be the absolute best-case scenario.

Denver's bye would allow every banged-up player to get healthier, and it would also present a perfect opportunity for the team to add a player or two at the NFL Trade Deadline and get them up to speed with the bye.

Even in a loss, the Broncos sitting at 6-3 would still position themselves well down the stretch, especially with the ease of the remaining schedule.

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