Report: Broncos RB Booker could miss 6-8 weeks with wrist injury

With less than 12 hours before training camp kicks off from UCHealth Training Center, the Denver Broncos appear to already have its first camp casualty.

Pro Football Talk reports that Broncos running back Devontae Booker is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a wrist injury and is expected to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck said Booker has been dealing with the wrist issue since June.

Booker had been dealing w wrist issue in June. Not sure if just didn’t get better, or if something made it worse. But likely to start on PUP

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 27, 2017

It’s a tough break for Booker, who figured to push incumbent starter C.J. Anderson for more playing time after grinding through knee issues during his rookie season in 2016.

Ahead of the team’s conditioning test Wednesday afternoon, Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said Booker and Anderson would be taking most of the first and second team reps during practice with offseason acquisition Jamaal Charles bouncing between the first, second, and third teams.

“Booker is a good young player along with Jamaal, and we’ve got De’Angelo Henderson as a young draft pick,” Joseph said. “It’s a competitive room and that should push all of those guys to get better.”

In 16 games last season, six of which were starts, Booker rushed for 612 yards and four touchdowns while grabbing 31 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown.

Booker’s injury may mean longer looks for Charles, himself recovering from knee injuries, Henderson, and Bernard Pierce.

Joseph said on Wednesday that they intended to slowly bring Charles along, but if the four-time Pro Bowler and twice first-team All-Pro can get back to full strength, it could be exciting.

“… It’s our job to get Jamaal as healthy as he can be. If he gets back to being Jamaal, we’ve got something special there,” Joseph said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.