Injury troubles continue to mount for a Broncos team that has now endured two crushing primetime losses. Thursday’s Colts overtime defeat brought an injury to their longest-tenured offensive starter.
Sixth-year left tackle Garett Bolles sustained a broken leg during the closing minutes of regulation, Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter). A six-week timetable represents the best-case scenario here, but Klis adds the Broncos fear a lengthier absence could be in store. This injury, which will remove a fifth offensive starter from the team’s equation, could sideline Bolles, 30, for the season’s remainder.
The Broncos lost wideout Tim Patrick to an ACL tear early in training camp, while Javonte Williams went down with the same injury in Week 4. Denver entered the season without both members of its right tackle competition (Billy Turner, Tom Compton) and has played without right guard Quinn Meinerz since Week 1. The team’s third-round tight end, Greg Dulcich, has also been on IR throughout the season. Bolles’ absence will represent fairly new territory for the franchise, however. The 2017 first-round pick has not missed more than three games in a season previously.
The first tackle chosen in that 2017 draft, Bolles has started all 82 games he has played in Denver. The Utah product has gone through an up-and-down tenure as a pro. Holding penalties have been a frequent issue for the talented blocker, who broke through during the 2020 season — a second-team All-Pro campaign — en route to a four-year, $68M extension. That deal runs through 2024. Thanks to Russell Wilson‘s extension, Bolles’ $21M 2022 cap hit checks in atop the Broncos’ payroll.
Denver brought in Calvin Anderson to replace Bolles on Thursday. Turner suited up for the first time this season against the Colts but did not see any game action. A knee injury led to Turner’s extended absence to start the season. Compton is on Denver’s reserve/PUP list due to a summer back surgery. He has not yet returned to practice. A former UDFA, Anderson is playing on an RFA tender ($2.5M) this season. He has made five career starts. That number will likely rise in the coming weeks.
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