Broncos Get Key Reinforcements Back at Practice Ahead of Packers Clash
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Broncos are starting to get healthy at just the right time, and that could be a game-changer as they prep for a marquee showdown with the Green Bay Packers this Sunday - a matchup that’s starting to feel like a potential Super Bowl preview.
The biggest news out of Denver on Wednesday? Left guard Ben Powers was back on the practice field. That’s a significant development for a Broncos offensive line that’s been forced to adapt ever since Powers tore his biceps muscle late in the Week 5 win over Philadelphia - and somehow still finished the game.
With Powers sidelined, Denver has pieced things together admirably. First, they leaned on veteran Matt Peart, who stepped in against the Jets in London on Oct.
- But when Peart went down with an MCL tear that same day, the Broncos turned to Alex Palczewski - a player who, up until this season, hadn’t taken snaps on the left side of the line at either the NFL level or during his college days at Illinois.
Now, with Powers officially designated to return, the team has opened his 21-day practice window. It’s the first step toward reactivating him to the 53-man roster, and it couldn’t come at a better time. His presence would bring not only stability but also a physical edge to the interior line - something Denver will need against a Packers front that’s been disruptive all season.
But Powers wasn’t the only familiar face back in action Wednesday.
Tight end Nate Adkins and defensive lineman D.J. Jones also returned to practice.
Adkins has been out since suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ Oct. 26 win over the Cowboys. Jones, meanwhile, missed last Sunday’s win in Las Vegas after hurting his ankle late in the Nov. 30 game at Washington.
Getting both players back on the field - even in a limited capacity - is an encouraging sign for a Broncos team that’s been grinding through injuries but still finding ways to win.
One Absence Worth Monitoring
While the Broncos welcomed back several contributors, they were without rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant during Wednesday’s individual drills.
Bryant popped up on the injury report last Thursday with a hamstring issue but still suited up against the Raiders. He made the most of his snaps, pulling in four catches for 32 yards - second among Denver wideouts in both categories for the game.
Though his snap share (47.3%) was his lowest since Week 4, Bryant still logged 35 plays, which is right in line with his usage over the past couple of months. Since Week 5, he’s consistently been in the 30-to-49 snap range each week, showing the coaching staff’s trust in him as a steady part of the offense.
And he’s been quietly productive. Since the start of November, Bryant has hauled in 15 catches for 219 yards - averaging a strong 14.6 yards per grab. That yardage total ranks second on the team during that span, trailing only Courtland Sutton.
For a rookie third-round pick, Bryant’s development has been a bright spot. But with his hamstring still lingering, his status will be something to watch closely as Sunday approaches.
Looking Ahead
With Powers, Adkins, and Jones trending in the right direction, the Broncos are starting to look more like their full-strength selves. That’s huge with a heavyweight opponent coming to town. The Packers are no joke, and if Denver wants to keep building momentum down the stretch, getting key players back on the field - and keeping them there - will be critical.
Wednesday’s practice didn’t just mark a return to the field for a few injured Broncos. It signaled a team getting healthier, deeper, and more dangerous - just in time for the games that matter most.