BRONCOS

Broncos Injury Report: A frustrating loss not on the scoreboard

Oct 28, 2019, 7:02 AM | Updated: 11:26 am

The Broncos lost another heartbreaker on Sunday, falling 15-13 to the Colts when another late-game field goal split the uprights. That’s incredibly frustrating, as Denver watched its hopes for the season fade away when they lost for a third time in eight weeks on a kick in the waning seconds.

But that wasn’t the only frustrating aspect of the game in Indianapolis. An injury to a key player must have the team wanting to pull out its collective hair, as well.

Ten snaps into the season, Ja’Wuan James injured his left knee against the Raiders. The high-priced free agent has been on the sidelines ever since, unable to earn any of the four-year, $52 million contract he signed with the Broncos during the offseason.

So it was great news when he was back in the starting lineup on Sunday, providing Denver with a much-needed boost in the trenches. Unfortunately, the euphoria didn’t last long.

In the second quarter, James re-injured his left knee and was forced to leave the game. His availability moving forward this season is now a huge question mark.

“Maybe we should’ve given him another week,” Fangio said about his right tackle’s recovery from the first injury. “I don’t know.”

That being the case, Denver figures to be really careful with James moving forward. And in a season that appears lost, there’s no reason for the Broncos to hurry the veteran right tackle back onto the field.

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