With the preseason about to get underway, the Denver Broncos are suddenly having some concerning depth issues at a position nobody was worried about going into training camp.
The Broncos are widely considered to have one of the top 2-3 best offensive lines in the NFL, if not the best. They are considered the best not only because of their top-tier starting five, but their enviable depth at all of the positions as well. The Broncos have a second-contract player at the center position in Luke Wattenberg, and his backup -- 2023 7th-round pick Alex Forsyth -- has been incredibly valuable as a reserve, starting six games and playing over 400 snaps over the last two seasons.
Unfortunately, both of those guys have suffered injuries early in training camp for the Broncos, and so did the third guy on the depth chart: Michael Deiter.
Broncos already down to their fourth-string center as injuries pile up at camp
Michael Deiter being carted to the locker room. Injured during 9 on 7 drill
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) August 11, 2026
Deiter was signed to the Broncos' practice squad last year, and the team brought him back for some depth in camp this offseason. Before being carted off the field at Tuesday's practice, it was Deiter that was snapping the ball to starting quarterback Bo Nix.
And even if that were still the case heading into Friday's preseason game against Atlanta, is that really the situation you want the starting quarterback stepping into?
Having Bo Nix taking snaps from the 3rd-string center is worrisome enough with him coming off the ankle injury, but if Deiter is unavailable, the Broncos might want to wait another week for Nix to make his return to on-field, in-game action.
There is optimism surrounding both Wattenberg and Forsyth, who have both been doing work on the side field at training camp, but not yet returning to full participants in practice. As always, the Broncos are very coy about injuries to players during training camp, simply because they are not required by the league to share specific information like they are during the season.
But whatever Wattenberg and Forsyth have been dealing with, it seems like they've now reached the home stretch of their recovery. If one -- or both -- of those players could be available for Week 2 of the preseason, that's where the Broncos would be better off having Nix make his preseason debut, and perhaps his only appearance of the preseason.
Starters typically play a bit in the first two weeks of the preseason, but the third week of the preseason now functions similar to how the fourth week used to. The dress rehearsal for the season is Week 2, and Week 3 is all about getting bottom-of-the-roster players more reps, resting starters for Week 1.
With the center position down to undrafted rookie Gavin Ortega and veteran backup Calvin Throckmorton, the Broncos' plan of action going forward needs to be cautious and forward-thinking.
Add us as a preferred source on Google