Broncos hope they ‘dodged a bullet’ on Jeudy’s ankle injury

Denver also lost two more offensive linemen and DB K'waun Williams to injuries on Sunday

NASHVILLE >> Denver lost wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to an ankle injury on the first snap from scrimmage Sunday against Tennessee, but head coach Nathaniel Hackett thinks the Broncos may have “dodged a bullet” on the severity.

The receiver was running a corner route downfield when he got his legs tangled underneath him and went down. Trainers came out to attend to Jeudy, who limped off the field and into the blue medical tent at Nissan Stadium.

Jeudy attempted to test out the ankle by jogging on the sideline, but didn’t get very far. He was carted to the locker room afterward and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

After the game, Jeudy had a walking boot on his left foot and walked gingerly.

“We’ll evaluate and see how long he’ll be,” Hackett said.

It’s the second time Jeudy has left a game in the first quarter due to injury this season. He also left in the first quarter of the Week 2 win over the Texans after suffering a shoulder injury.

Jeudy also injured his ankle in the season opener last year, causing him to miss six games.

He had been emerging as perhaps Denver’s top receiving option in recent weeks, compiling at least 53 receiving yards

in each of the team’s past five games.

OFFENSIVE LINE WOES>> The Broncos also lost starting right tackle Billy Turner to a knee injury and center Graham Glasgow to a shoulder injury against the Titans.

Turner had his leg rolled up from behind on a Latavius Murray rush in the second quarter. Quinn Bailey, activated from the practice squad, took Turner’s place on the edge.

Glasgow injured his shoulder on a running play in the third quarter and was replaced by rookie Luke Wattenberg. The fifth-round draft pick “battled,” according to quarterback Russell Wilson, but struggled. He and Wilson had two snap issues that led to fumbles.

“We lost (starting center Lloyd Cushenberry) in Jacksonville, and so we had to get Graham

up to speed with Russ, so Luke did not get as much (practice work) with Russell,” Hackett said. “That was a little bit of something they had to work out and get some extra snaps and so forth.

“We’ll have to make sure we get Luke going again.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Denver’s defense also took a hit when K’waun Williams left the game with a knee injury and did not return.

Virgil’s big play. The lone undrafted rookie to make Denver’s 53-man roster this season made his first NFL catch count in a big way.

Jalen Virgil, the former Appalachian State wide receiver, was active for just the second time and made his first career start for the Broncos. In the second quarter, Wilson changed a play at the line of scrimmage and hit Virgil for

a 63-yard touchdown up the left sideline.

INACTIVES>> Denver’s game day inactives included a pair of healthy scratches and six injured players.

Running back Marlon Mack was the odd man out among the Broncos’ four on the 53-man roster and rookie defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was also inactive. As expected, standout safety Justin Simmons (knee) did not play. Denver had previously ruled five players out due to injury: LT Cam Fleming (quad), OLB Baron Browning (groin), WR KJ Hamler (hamstring), TE Andrew Beck (hamstring) and CB Darrius Phillips (illness).

Hackett called Simmons “day to day” and said he just didn’t get healthy enough to play this week after spraining his knee in London against Jacksonville.