Both Broncos starting guards receive league fines

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The dreaded FedEx envelopes continue landing in the Broncos’ palatial new locker room — but in the case of one recent fine, it was not for an on-field incident.

Both of the Broncos’ starting guards — right guard Quinn Meinerz and left guard Quinn Meinerz — received recent five-figure fines from the league.

Powers’ fine was for something conventional — an illegal blindside block in last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He’ll be docked $17,911.

The fine to Powers was the fifth issued to a Broncos player this season for something that transpired on the field. The team had just eight such fines all of last season.

But as for Meinerz — who was fined last week for a celebration — his latest fine is for an equally nonsensical reason as his first of the season.

This time, Meinerz was fined by the NFL for posting a text message of the NFL’s command for him to submit to a random drug test in the wake of the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. That was the game that featured Meinerz pancaking future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post was first to report the fine, which will be approximately $15,000.

Definition of unstoppable force meets immovable object 😳 pic.twitter.com/nuW3sbjA1f

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2026

Meinerz plans to appeal the fine — as well he should. He said last week he intends to appeal the earlier fine, too.

BRONCOS FINES FOR ON-FIELD INFRACTIONS, 2024-26:

2026:

• Week 1: LB Alex Singleton, $11,941 (unnecessary roughness)
• Week 2: LB Alex Singleton, $17,911 (unnecessary roughness)
• Week 3: RG Quinn Meinerz and WR Jaylen Waddle, $14,926 each (unsportsmanlike conduct)
• Week 4: LG Ben Powers, $17,911 (illegal blindside block)

2025:

• Week 7: LB Dre Greenlaw, $282,778 game check and one-game suspension (verbal abuse toward officials)
• Week 7: CB Riley Moss, $8,253 (face mask)
• Week 7: LB Justin Strnad, $15,486 (physical contact with an official)
• Week 13: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $11,593 (unsportsmanlike conduct)
• Week 15: S Talanoa Hufanga, $11,593 (unsportsmanlike conduct)
• Week 16: S P.J. Locke, $11,593 (late hit)
• Week 16: DL Malcolm Roach, $17,389 (roughing the passer)
• Week 16: LB Alex Singleton, $23,186 (impermissible use of the helmet)

2024:

• Week 1: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $8,791 (roughing the passer)
• Week 1: S Brandon Jones,  $11,255 (excessive face mask)
• Week 2: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (removing helmet on the field)
• Week 2: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (hit to defenseless player)
• Week 2: C Luke Wattenberg, $5,872 (blindside block)
• Week 5: FB Michael Burton, $7,653 (blindside block)
• Week 7: DL Malcolm Roach, $14,069 (obscene gesture)
• Week 7: CB Levi Wallace, $7,181 (hip drop tackle)
• Week 9: S Devon Key, $4,417 (excessive face mask)
• Week 11: CB Pat Surtain II, $11,255 (face mask)
• Week 13: Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, $12,668 (roughing the passer)
• Week 15: Edge rusher Nik Bonitto, $8,791 (obscene gesture)
• Week 15: S Brandon Jones, $11,255 (late hit)
• Week 15: S Brandon Jones, $16,883 (hip-drop tackle)
• Week 16: Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, $12,668 (horse-collar tackle)
• Week 16: DL Malcolm roach, $11,255 (taunting)
• Week 16: RB Blake Watson, $4,463 (impermissible use of the helmet)
• Week 17: S P.J. Locke, $13,972 (impermissible use of the helmet)
• Wild card round: LB Justin Strnad, $7,250 (hip-drop tackle)
• Wild-card round: RB Javonte Wiliams, $45,020 (impermissible use of the helmet)

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