The Broncos may be down a key member of their interior defensive line as Sunday\u2019s season-opener approaches.<\/p>\n
Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach suffered a calf strain during Thursday\u2019s practice, sources told The Denver Post. It\u2019s a Grade 2 strain, a source said, a designation that covers a broad range of possible injury but casts doubt on Roach\u2019s availability to play against Tennessee on Sunday, approximately 72 hours post-injury.<\/p>\n
The defensive tackle left Thursday\u2019s practice during the period open to reporters, and was later designated on the team\u2019s injury report as limited (calf). If Roach is indeed out Sunday, it\u2019ll mean more rotational reps for backups Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike, as Denver carried seven defensive linemen on its initial 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kenton Fibel, a primary care sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles and the medical director for the Anaheim Ducks, told The Post on Thursday night that Grade 2 calf strain for an NFL player usually \u201cis probably going to be several weeks\u201d of absence.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrade 2 is usually where you\u2019re seeing at least a partial tear,\u201d Dr. Fibel said, noting he doesn\u2019t know the specifics of Roach\u2019s injury but that the grading of muscle injuries is generally consistent. \u201cSometimes that might include a little bit of bleeding to the area or a hematoma. But you at least have disruption of the muscle fibers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond Roach, Denver has\u00a0more than one injury question on their defense as Sunday\u2019s season-opener approaches.<\/p>\n
Inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw didn\u2019t participate for the second straight practice day due to a quad injury he\u2019s been dealing with on and off since April. Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman (hamstring), another key rotational piece in the team\u2019s front seven, also appeared on the injury report as a limited participant in Thursday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n
Tillman, a source said, got encouraging news after examination and appears to have avoided serious injury.<\/p>\n
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph didn\u2019t have an update on Greenlaw, but he said the club is always talking through what contingency plans are for any player.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re always prepared for your guys to step up and play,\u201d Joseph said. \u201cAny position. Linebacker, safety, corner. It\u2019s early in the week, but every guy on our roster, practice squad included, has to be ready to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo no worries there. Dre\u2019s working hard and we\u2019ll see what happens on Sunday, but we have guys that are capable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind Greenlaw and Alex Singleton, Denver has Justin Strnad and undrafted rookie Karene Reid on the 53-man roster, plus Levelle Bailey, Jordan Turner and Garrett Wallow on the practice squad.<\/p>\n
Rookie number changes:\u00a0The Broncos\u2019 top two draft picks from this spring have changed their numbers in recent days, with one leading to the next.<\/p>\n
First, first-round pick Jahdae Barron swapped out No. 12 for No. 23, a nod to his childhood friend, Tardrick \u201cTrollie\u201d Fowler Jr., who died in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-three, that means something to me personally,\u201d Barron said Wednesday. \u201cI had a family friend that passed away, so I wore 23 in college for him. \u2026 It\u2019s good just to get back in the number for myself and then also for his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know they\u2019ll be proud to see that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That number had been running back Audric Estime\u2019s when Barron joined the team this spring. Once Estime was waived last month, Barron jumped at the chance to switch.<\/p>\n
Then Thursday, second-round running back RJ Harvey switched to No. 12 from No. 37.<\/p>\n
So far, those have been the only two number changes for Denver.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeel good, play good, play good and ultimately you get paid good,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n
Versatile backs:\u00a0Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi thinks Denver\u2019s set of running backs can all play in various scenarios.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, you kinda had a back that filled this role, and then you had your lightning back, or maybe more of a receiver, and change-of-pace back,\u201d Lombardi said. \u201cAnd we just feel like all our guys can do everything. And that makes it a lot more easy to personnel all your plays. You\u2019re not worried about which running back\u2019s in there. They all can handle it. So, makes it a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lombardi said Harvey has come along in the pass-protection department, adding, \u201cIn another year, he\u2019ll be even better. For a rookie, I think he\u2019s on point and dialed in, and if he\u2019s in there on third down, we have no concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n