Exhale, Denver Broncos fans: Pat Bryant’s ankle injury is expected to keep him out only “a few weeks.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday morning that the second-year wide receiver sprained his ankle in Denver’s 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Bryant went down on a 30-yard catch-and-run that helped set up a Wil Lutz field goal, and he finished with three catches on three targets for 47 yards.
The timeline still leaves a little uncertainty. “A few weeks” could mean two or three, or it could stretch to four or more.
If the Broncos believe Bryant will miss at least four games, they can move him to short-term injured reserve. That would likely put him back on the field around Week 9 and beyond, which would still leave him available for the stretch run.
Denver is also waiting on updates for Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss, who left Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium with lower leg and rib injuries, respectively.
Bryant’s absence would hit a passing game that has already struggled to find its footing. Outside of Week 2, the Broncos’ aerial attack has been described as anemic and frustrating to watch, with Bo Nix leaning heavily on checkdowns in a way that made the offense easy to predict. The source of that tendency isn’t clear, whether it came from the game plan or the quarterback.
Bryant has been one of the few bright spots. A third-round pick out of Illinois last year, he got off to a slow start as a rookie before gradually cutting into Troy Franklin’s snaps.
His momentum was interrupted by a brutal Week 16 concussion that hospitalized him. He returned for the Broncos’ playoff run, only to suffer another concussion and then a hamstring injury in the AFC championship game that sidelined him for most of it.
This season, Bryant surged through training camp and won the No. 3 receiver job behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle. He has also been a key piece in both of Denver’s wins this year, which makes his short-term absence a real concern.
There is at least some depth available. Franklin is still around and, as the source notes, is very experienced for a third-year player.
Marvin Mims Jr. is healthy again, giving Denver a four-man receiver rotation. Lil’Jordan Humphrey is on the practice squad, and if Bryant lands on short-term IR, Humphrey would be expected to move back onto the active roster.
More should be known about Bryant’s outlook soon.
In Other News...
Former Avalanche Blue-Liner Brings Back An All Too Familiar What-If
Ryan Lindgrens night for the Kraken ended almost before it began, a jarring turn for a defenseman whose career has already been marked by constant movement. He was hurt 15 seconds into Seattles game against the Vegas Golden Knights after taking a hit from behind and did not return because of an upper-body injury, another frustrating reminder of how quickly a season can tilt for a player trying to carve out stability in a new home.
For Avalanche fans, Lindgrens situation can stir a familiar what-if after his brief stint in Colorado following a trade brought him into the fold. He is now in his second season with Seattle, and his recent career path has been a reminder of how often his value has traveled with him from stop to stop. The injury adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a season that had already been defined by change, leaving more questions about what comes next than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Nathan MacKinnon Suddenly Has The Help Colorado Needed Most
The Avalanche barely had time to settle into the season before their offense started roaring, piling up 14 goals in the first two games and matching a franchise mark. Martin Necas has been a big part of that early surge, flashing the kind of finish and playmaking Colorado hoped to add when it put him alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen.
Necas backed up the buzz in the 6-1 win over the Blues, scoring twice and adding an assist as the top line combined for three goals and eight points. What makes the start even more encouraging for Colorado is that the scoring has come with strong defensive work behind it, giving the Avalanche an early look at the balance they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Bednar Sees One Risk Colorado Must Fix With Zach LHeureux
Zach LHeureux arrives with a reputation that follows him everywhere, and not just because of the way he plays. Since the start of his career, he has piled up 12 suspensions and missed 42 games, a track record that includes a recent three-game ban for slew-footing. For Colorado, the appeal is obvious: there is edge in his game, and edge is something this team has long valued when it is paired with speed, skill and purpose.
Jared Bednar sees the same upside, but he also knows the risk that comes with it. The Avalanche coach said LHeureux can learn to play with bite without crossing the line, pointing to Nazem Kadri as an example of how a player can keep the fire while cleaning up the consequences. The challenge now is less about whether LHeureux can bring energy than whether he can harness it, because Colorado needs that presence on the ice far more than it needs another discipline problem on the ledger. [Read more 🡒]