Zachary Engberg
2 min read • August 04, 2022
Posted in
2021 record: 7-10 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 9.5
The Broncos had one of the busiest offseasons among all NFL teams both in roster and ownership turnover, and come in with the biggest collection of injury concerns in the contentious division.
Denver traded for future HOF quarterback Russell Wilson, who missed the first games of his career in 2021 after suffering a gruesome right finger fracture in Week 5.
Wilson will be throwing the ball to a quartet of pass-catchers who are each dealing with the fallout from significant injuries.
Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Albert Okwuegbunam, and KJ Hamler have combined for three torn ACLs, one high-ankle sprain, and one hip surgery in the last 21 months, but only one of the bunch is unavailable as camp begins.
Denver also got it's third WR ACL tear in three seasons, with Tim Patrick going down with a severe knee injury in training camp.
One of the key linemen expected to protect the new QB, Graham Glasgow, is active at training camp after missing most of 2021 with a combination of a fractured leg and irregular heartbeat.
Right tackle Billy Turner was placed on the PUP list and has been mostly unavailable for the Broncos while dealing with an unspecified injury, opening up the right tackle spot for a competition at training camp.
Denver is likewise in a major transition on defense after trading away Von Miller last season.
Bradley Chubb struggled through a career-worst season in 2021 after suffering an injury in Week 2, while his new pass-rush partner, Randy Gregory, was placed on the PUP list after undergoing shoulder surgery in March.
Wilson missed three games with a fractured right middle finger with associated ligament damage that required a pin and multiple screws.
The injury – the first significant one of Wilson's career – will have no impact on the upcoming season, according to the Pro Football Docs, and actually points to how healthy and productive the 33-year-old has been in his career.
Sutton is primed for a repeat of his 2019 pro-bowl season as he will be two years removed from a torn ACL. The Pro Football Docs say he will be fully healthy in his first season playing with a pro-bowl caliber quarterback.
Jeudy's high-ankle sprain stalled his sophomore season, but the injury won't linger into 2022 and Jeudy will be healthy and available for Week 1 in what may be a prove-it season for the talented 23-year-old.
Young speedster KJ Hamler, unfortunately, comes into camp with the lowest SIC score this season after suffering a torn ACL and LCL and hip injury going up for a pass in Week 2. The multi-ligament repair alone complicates his recovery, but the added hip component makes Hamler unlikely to be effective or available in 2022.
The starting left guard went down with a fractured left ankle and associated ligament damage in Week 9 and missed the rest of the season.
Glasgow was able to avoid the PUP list and is on track to return in Week 1, but the Pro Football Docs will maintain healthy, if moderate, concern due to the aggressive nature of the injury and his bout with A-fib.
Chubb's 2021 season was derailed by a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, which kept him on IR for eight games. He was able to return for six of the last seven games, but posted only 20 tackles and one interception while going sackless.
Luckily, the Docs say, the sprain won't linger into 2022 and Chubb will be healthy and in a place to return to his pro-bowl 2020 form.
Gregory, who came over from the Cowboys on a $70 million contract, is another in a line of stars opening camp on the PUP list after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The Docs say Gregory will be activated soon and fully recovered by Week 1.
Written by Zachary Engberg
