Broncos Injury Report: A key player is lost for the season

When the Broncos boarded the plane to return to Denver, they weren’t just licking the wounds of a 27-23 loss to the Vikings; they also left Minnesota knowing they had lost a key member of their team for the rest of the season.

Andy Janovich, the Broncos starting fullback and a major contributor on special teams, dislocated his right elbow when he landed awkwardly while being tackled. The injury is expected to end his season.

Source: Broncos FB Andy Janovich will undergo further evaluation in Denver, but the dislocated right elbow he suffered against the Vikings today is expected to end his season. (1st by @MikeKlis)

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2019

On the day, Jano experienced highs and lows that seemed to mirror his season. Earlier in the game, the fullback scored a one-yard touchdown. Then, he suffered a gruesome injury, one that CBS refused to show a replay of during the television broadcast.

Earlier in the year, Janovich missed the first three games of the season while recovering from a pectoral injury suffered during the preseason. He returned to the lineup, was productive and earned a three-year, $5.7 million contract. Then, his season ended in mid-November.

It’s a tough blow for the Broncos, as Janovich is a key part of the team’s running game. As the lead blocker for Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, the fullback was vital to Denver’s ground attack.

In his place, expect Andrew Beck to fill the void. The tight end acquired at the end of the preseason when he was released by the Patriots can also play fullback.

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