Broncos Get Defensive Boost with Zach Allen Cleared for Raiders Matchup, but D-Line Depth Will Be Tested
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Broncos are heading into Sunday’s clash with the Raiders in better shape than expected on the defensive front - at least partially. Defensive end Zach Allen, one of the NFL’s most disruptive forces off the edge, is officially good to go after shaking off a calf issue that kept him out of Thursday’s practice.
Allen returned to full participation Friday and carries no injury designation into the weekend. That’s big news for Denver, considering Allen leads the league in quarterback hits this season with 31 - following a league-high 40 last year - and has become a cornerstone of the Broncos’ pass rush.
“He’s all good,” head coach Sean Payton said Friday, keeping it short but reassuring.
Payton and the Broncos have made a concerted effort to manage Allen’s workload this season. After logging a massive 89% of the defensive snaps in 2024, Allen’s usage has dipped to 73% this year - a move designed to keep him fresher and more explosive down the stretch.
“Now we’re trying to pay attention to his pitch count a little bit better,” Payton explained. “It was a little too much last year.”
He continued: “When you’re playing inside, you’re playing defensive line, these are short wrestling matches every six seconds and there’s a fatigue element to it.”
The Broncos will also have wide receiver Pat Bryant available. Bryant had been limited in practice for two straight days with a hamstring issue but was not given a game status designation, meaning he’s expected to suit up.
D.J. Jones Out, Enyi Uwazurike Steps Up
While Allen’s return is a boost, the Broncos will be without fellow defensive line starter D.J. Jones, who was ruled out after missing three straight practices. Jones suffered an ankle injury late in last week’s win over Washington and hasn’t been able to get back on the field since.
Also ruled out is tight end Nate Adkins, further thinning Denver’s depth in the trenches and at the skill positions.
With Jones sidelined, the spotlight shifts to Enyi Uwazurike, who’s quietly become one of the more efficient run defenders in the league this year. It’s been a long road back for Uwazurike, who played just four games last season after missing all of 2023 due to a suspension related to gambling charges - charges he was ultimately cleared of.
Now, he’s showing why the Broncos remained patient.
“He was like a big ball of clay,” Payton said. “All of a sudden you’re starting to see the technique and the leverage and the power.”
Payton pointed out how difficult it is for any player to miss a full year and then jump right back into the grind of an NFL season. But Uwazurike has done just that - and done it well.
“Sometimes, when you play a position he plays, it goes unnoticed,” Payton said. “But [he is] a big part of what we’re doing and why we’re successful, especially in the run game and then pushing the pocket.”
To help fill the gap left by Jones, the Broncos are expected to elevate either Jordan Jackson or Sai’vion Jones. Jackson hasn’t seen action since Week 5, while Jones’ only snaps came in Week 4 against Cincinnati.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Questionable, Key Starters in Limbo
On the other side of the field, the Raiders are dealing with some uncertainty of their own - and it centers around one of the league’s most feared pass rushers.
Maxx Crosby, who’s made a habit of terrorizing the Broncos (15.5 sacks in 13 career games), is officially questionable with a knee injury. He’s missed two straight practices, and while the Broncos have managed to keep him off the stat sheet in their last two meetings, his presence - or absence - could swing the balance Sunday.
The Raiders also listed four other starters as questionable: linebacker Jamal Adams, safety Jeremy Chinn, center Jordan Meredith, and left guard Dylan Parham.
Two players have already been ruled out for Las Vegas: tight end Michael Mayer, who didn’t practice all week, and backup wide receiver Alex Bachman.
What It All Means
With Allen cleared and Uwazurike stepping into a larger role, the Broncos’ defensive line still has the potential to be a difference-maker - even without D.J. Jones. But depth will be tested, especially if the Raiders opt to lean on their ground game to exploit that interior.
On the flip side, if Crosby can’t go for Las Vegas, it removes a major headache for Denver’s offensive line and could give Russell Wilson more time to operate.
Sunday’s game may not carry playoff implications, but it’s shaping up to be a physical, trench-driven battle - and both teams are already making adjustments before kickoff.