Broncos center Paradis to miss remainder of 2018 with broken leg
Nov 4, 2018, 4:11 PM | Updated: 8:30 pm
The Denver Broncos will be without center Matt Paradis for an extended period time after the team captain fractured his fibula in Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Houston Texans.
According to 9News’ Mike Klis, Paradis will undergo surgery as soon as swelling recedes and will be out of commission for the remainder of the 2018 season.
With less than a minute left in the first half, a Texans defender rolled up on Paradis, sidelining one of the most consistent players not only on the Broncos but also in the entire NFL.
“It’s a huge loss, obviously, losing one of our captains and a guy who’s played a lot of football for us,” said head coach Vance Joseph after the game.
Until the play, Paradis had played 3,850 consecutive snaps since his first start in Week 1 of the 2015 season, the second-longest active streak in the league.
“Matt, he’s as solid as they come,” quarterback Case Keenum said after the game. “He’s awesome to play with. I don’t ever like comparing guys, but man, he’s incredible. Top notch, first class. It’s a tough deal. I’m hurting for him.”
The fifth-year pro entered 2018 on the final year of his deal with the Broncos and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season should a deal not be negotiated in the coming months.
After Paradis’ injury, guard Connor McGovern took over the snapping duties with backup Elijah Wilkinson filling in at right guard.
Joseph said that the Broncos have “capable backups” and while not everything was perfect, the two “competed.”
“… The name of the game in this league is next man up, and Connor, I thought, came in and did a great job communicating because they, especially when we’re having to pass the ball late in the game, they pin their ears back,” Keenum said. “They have some pretty good rushers. I thought they did a great job of adjusting on the fly to that.”
Who will take over the hiking duties permanently remains uncertain as of Sunday.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
