Broncos Injury Report: Key Offensive Pieces Trending in the Right Direction, But Bo Nix Sidelined
The Denver Broncos kicked off their week of preparation with a long injury report, but the good news? Most of the names listed were back on the field in some capacity. And for a team navigating the late-season grind, that’s exactly the kind of momentum you want to see.
Let’s start with the wide receiver room, which took a hit during Saturday’s win over the Bills. Both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant exited that game early-Franklin tweaking his hamstring on Frank Crum’s touchdown play, and Bryant leaving with a concussion after a hot start that saw him snag three quick catches.
That left Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey to carry the load-and to their credit, they did just enough to get the job done. But reinforcements may be on the way.
On Wednesday, both Franklin and Bryant were back on the practice field, albeit in a limited role. That’s a promising sign, especially considering the physical nature of their respective injuries.
For Franklin, soft tissue injuries like hamstrings can be tricky, and Bryant’s return from concussion protocol is something the team will handle with care. Still, their presence at practice is a step in the right direction.
Joining them as limited participants were running back J.K. Dobbins and center Alex Forsyth.
Dobbins’ return is particularly notable-it marked his first practice appearance since undergoing surgery for a lisfranc injury back in November. The Broncos have been cautious with the veteran back, and while head coach Sean Payton declined to elaborate on his status, just seeing Dobbins back in pads is a positive development.
Forsyth’s ankle injury has kept him in and out of action, and his limited status on Wednesday suggests the team is still managing his workload carefully.
There was more good news on the offensive line and defensive depth fronts. Center Luke Wattenberg had his 21-day activation window opened and was a full participant, along with tight end Lucas Krull, offensive tackle Frank Crum, linebacker Drew Sanders, and safety JL Skinner. Crum, who caught some attention with his touchdown against Buffalo, appears to be moving well on his recovering ankle.
The lone absence? Rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who underwent successful ankle surgery on Tuesday.
While the team hasn’t officially moved him to injured reserve yet, that procedural step is expected soon. With Nix sidelined, Denver will have to lean on its quarterback depth as they finish out the season.
Here’s a full look at Wednesday’s injury report:
- OT Frank Crum (ankle): Full participation
- TE Lucas Krull (foot): Full participation
- LB Drew Sanders (ankle): Full participation
- S JL Skinner (quad): Full participation
- C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder): Full participation
- WR Pat Bryant (concussion): Limited participation
- RB J.K. Dobbins (foot): Limited participation
- C Alex Forsyth (ankle): Limited participation
- WR Troy Franklin (hamstring): Limited participation
- QB Bo Nix (ankle): Did not participate
As the Broncos continue to push through January, the health of their young core-particularly at wide receiver and quarterback-will be something to watch closely. For now, though, the signs are mostly encouraging.