Broncos lose offensive lineman for season to knee injury

The Broncos will have to reshuffle their potential plans for depth along the interior offensive line.

Nick Gargiulo, a 2024 seventh-round draft pick enjoying a stellar camp, officially saw his season end this weekend with the right-knee injury that he suffered during Saturday night’s 27-7 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Denver formally placed Gargiulo on injured reserve Sunday.

Gargiulo joins undrafted rookie Johnny Walker Jr. as players immediately placed on injured reserve without being exposed to waivers via the waived/injured process first. The Broncos designated Matt Henningsen and Gregory Junior as waived injured.

The Yale and South Carolina product was injured when he was rolled up while blocking for running back Blake Watson on a 9-yard run with 6:51 remaining in in the third quarter. Broncos medical personnel immediately treated him and a cart was quickly summoned.

Teammates left the sideline to gather around Gargiulo as an air cast was placed on his leg and he was placed onto the cart.

GARGIULO HAD GOOD SHOT OF CRACKING BRONCOS’ 53-PLAYER ROSTER

Gargiulo appeared to be on track to make the 53 after spending his rookie season on the practice squad providing depth on the interior offensive line.

He was the third interior lineman drafted by the team on Day 3 in as many years, joining starting center Luke Wattenberg (2022) and reserve center Alex Forsyth (2023).

The team will fill his spot on the roster with fullback Adam Prentice.

With Gargiulo out, interior-offensive line depth beyond Forsyth will come from a group veteran Calvin Throckmorton, practice-squad mainstay and CU product Will Sherman — who started Saturday along with Forsyth and Throckmorton — and undrafted rookies Clay Webb and Joe Michalski, all of whom are battling for spots on the 53-player roster and practice squad.

Related

The Broncos could be a perfect fit for a future Hall of Fame linebackerVance Joseph: Broncos defense was ‘unengaged’ and a ‘bit lazy’ against PackersDr. Ramos & Zach Bye discuss Riley MossESPN picks Broncos as one of five most likely teams to decline in 2026The Broncos’ preseason loss to the Packers was the wake-up call they neededBroncos’ addition of veteran safety Rapp wasn’t necessarily about necessity, Payton says