Right tackle Billy Turner’s knee injury feared to be long-term
Since the start of 2016, the Broncos have used 16 different starting right tackles
As the Broncos’ season circles the drain, their injuries continue to mount.
Receiver Jerry Jeudy, right tackle Billy Turner, nickel back K’waun Williams and center Graham Glasgow all left Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Titans in Nashville and did not return.
Jeudy exited after the first play from scrimmage, when he suffered an ankle injury after falling down on a route. He tried to loosen up his left ankle for a while on the sideline, but eventually took a cart ride to the locker room and had a walking boot over his foot after the game. He’s undergoing additional imaging on Monday.
Turner suffered an injury during a run play when he had a player roll up on the back of his left knee. Turner missed Denver’s first five games after having surgery on that same knee in the offseason. He played in just four games before suffering the latest knee injury, and is the latest in a string of injured/underperforming right tackles for Denver. Since the start of 2016, the Broncos have used 16 different starting right tackles.
Quarterback Russell Wilson posted a photo of Turner on his Instagram that said, “Going to miss you bro. Love going to war with you” — indicating the injury could be long term.
Williams also suffered a knee injury during the game. He’s been a key part of Denver’s top-ranked defense this year, playing nearly 75% of the team’s defensive snaps and showing versatility between playing in coverage, run support and blitzing.
Glasgow, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury in the second half and did not return to the game. He replaced injured center Lloyd
Cushenberry (groin) when Cushenberry had to leave the Week 8 win against Jacksonville in London.
In Glasgow’s place, rookie Luke Wattenberg took over. If Glasgow is going to miss time, Wattenberg will likely be the fulltime center going forward until Cushenberry returns from injured reserve.
In addition to those four starters, the Broncos are already without running back Javonte Williams (knee), left tackle Garett Bolles (leg), receiver Tim Patrick (knee), cornerback Ronald Darby (knee) and outside linebacker/special teamer Aaron Patrick (knee) for the season. Also, running back Mike Boone (ankle), outside linebacker Randy Gregory (knee), safety Caden Sterns (hip), long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (wrist) and Cushenberry are all on short-term IR.*