Broncos bring key starter back from injured reserve after two months

The Broncos have their first-team offensive line back together.

Left guard Ben Powers will be activated from injured reserve and available for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing the last nine games due to a torn biceps muscle suffered late in the Broncos’ Week 5 win at Philadelphia.

KUSA-Ch. 9’s Mike Klis was first to report the move.

Powers returned to practice on Dec. 10, and the team gradually brought the seven-year veteran back up to speed over the last week and a half.

During his absence, Matt Peart started one game, playing nearly that entire contest on a torn medial collateral ligament. Alex Palczewski subsequently replaced Peart, starting the next eight games in succession after moving over from his role as right-side backup.

Palczewski had not worked on the left side of the line since high school, but quickly acclimated. The Broncos didn’t lose a game with him in the starting lineup, and first-team running back J.K. Dobbins averaged 5.3 yards per carry in four games with Palczewski at left guard — even better than the 4.6-yards-per-carry pace he had with Powers in the lineup.

BRONCOS WILL NOT HAVE POWERS WORKING EVERY SNAP RIGHT AWAY

As was the case with inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw earlier this season, Broncos coach Sean Payton will not have Powers playing every snap upon his return from an extended absence. Thus, you can still expect to see a fair amount of Palczewski working at left guard Sunday against the Jaguars.

The situations are different for linebackers compared with offensive linemen, but it’s worth noting that Greenlaw did not play at least half of the snaps in a game until his third week back, on Nov. 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Understand this, there’s always that transition period. So we’re never going to throw someone in there for 65 [plays],” Payton said. “There’s that transition period for anyone who’s coming off an injury like that.”

BRONCOS ELEVATE TWO PLAYERS FROM PRACTICE SQUAD

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell will receive the two practice-squad elevations for Sunday’s game, as first reported by KUSA-Ch. 9. Turner-Yell got the nod with the Broncos needing more safety depth in the wake of Brandon Jones landing on injured reserve due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Turner-Yell has not played in a regular-season game since suffering a torn ACL on Dec. 31, 2023.

BRONCOS PRACTICE-SQUAD ELEVATIONS:

2025:

• Week 1: LB Levelle Bailey, FB Adam Prentice
• Week 2: FB Adam Prentice (2), LB Garret Wallow
• Week 3: FB Adam Prentice (3), LB Garret Wallow (2)
• Week 4: LB Garret Wallow (3)
• Week 5: None
• Week 6: OL Calvin Throckmorton
• Week 7: None
• Week 8: LB Jordan Turner
• Week 9: WR Michael Bandy, TE Marcedes Lewis
• Week 10: TE Marcedes Lewis (2), CB Reese Taylor
• Week 11: TE Marcedes Lewis (3), LB Jordan Turner (2)
• Week 13: None
• Week 14: LB Jordan Turner (3)
• Week 15: WR Michael Bandy (2), QB Sam Ehlinger
• Week 16: QB Sam Ehlinger (2), S Delarrin Turner-Yell

2024:

• Week 1: FB Michael Burton, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
• Week 2: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (2)
• Week 3: RB Tyler Badie (2), DB Tanner McCalister
• Week 4: LB Levelle Bailey, DB Tanner McCalister (2)
• Week 5: LB Levelle Bailey (2)
• Week 6: OT Cam Fleming, IOL Calvin Throckmorton
• Week 7: ILB Kwon Alexander, IOL Calvin Throckmorton (2)
• Week 8: ILB Kwon Alexander (2), IOL Calvin Throckmorton (3)
• Week 9: ILB Kwon Alexander (3), FB Michael Burton (2)
• Week 10: FB Michael Burton (3), ILB Zach Cunningham (1)
• Week 11: ILB Zach Cunningham (2), S Keidron Smith (1)
• Week 12: ILB Zach Cunningham (3), OL Nick Gargiulo (1)
• Week 13: OL Nick Gargiulo (2)
• Week 15: OL Nick Gargiulo (3), CB Reese Taylor (1)
• Week 16: DL Matt Henningsen (1), RB Blake Watson (1)
• Week 17: DL Matt Henningsen (2), WR David Sills  (1)
• Week 18: DL Matt Henningsen (3)

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