The Broncos are trying to keep pace in the AFC West at 2-2, but the injury list keeps growing at exactly the wrong time.
Denver already knows it will be without Riley Moss and Patrick Surtain II in Week 5 against the Chargers. Now the Broncos have another hit to absorb on offense, with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant headed to injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury against the 49ers.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver is making Bryant a short-term IR placement. That means the young receiver will miss the next four games and can come back as soon as the team’s No. 8 game against the Panthers.
“The Broncos are placing emerging WR Pat Bryant on short-term IR with the ankle injury suffered vs. the 49ers on Sunday, per source," Rapoport reports. "Bryant will miss the next four games and can return as soon as the team's No. 8 game vs. the Panthers."
For Denver, that’s a tough blow because there had been some hope Bryant could avoid IR altogether. Instead, the Broncos now know they’ll be without him for at least four weeks.
That puts Bryant out for Weeks 5, 6, 7, and 8 before he becomes eligible to return. And with the Broncos’ bye coming in Week 10, there’s even a path for Denver to hold him out in Week 9 and give him a longer recovery window.
In the meantime, the Broncos will have to spread the work around to Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims also in line for more opportunities.
Bo Nix loses an important target here, but Denver is hoping the offense can start to settle in now that Sean Payton has taken over play calling after four weeks. The problem is simple: if this group is going to find its rhythm soon, it will have to do it without Bryant, a young receiver who looked ready for a bigger role before the injury stopped him cold.
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