Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz to miss time with hamstring injury

Last season, a Graham Glasgow injury moved Quinn Meinerz into the Broncos’ starting lineup. The reverse occurred Monday night, when Glasgow came in to replace Denver’s new right guard starter.

More Glasgow starts could be on tap. Meinerz suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for what could be a lengthy stretch, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Meinerz could miss four games, Klis adds. The Broncos will likely consider an IR move here, though with the possibility Meinerz could return before Week 6, it might also make sense to wait.

The Broncos have considerable experience on their second-string offensive line. In addition to signing Tom Compton and Cameron Fleming, the team rosters Glasgow, who was a full-time starter from 2016-21. Meinerz, however, took over after Glasgow’s midseason injury last year and won the job out of camp.

Denver signed Glasgow to a four-year, $44M deal in 2020, John Elway’s final offseason as the team’s GM. The team drafted Meinerz, a third-round pick out of Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, during George Paton’s first draft in that role. The younger lineman figures to be a key part of the Broncos’ offensive line plans moving forward, but Glasgow may well get his job back for the time being.

Seahawks defensive tackle Al Woods helped cause the second of the Broncos’ two goal-line fumbles Monday night, driving Glasgow into Javonte Williams on that play. But the Broncos still should have a quality option in the seventh-year veteran. The former Lions draftee has started 78 career games, including 20 with the Broncos. Following Glasgow’s season-ending broken ankle, the Broncos reworked his contract. Glasgow, 30, is earning $3.1M in 2022 base salary and counting $6.1M on Denver’s cap.