Broncos Get Receiver Back As Lineman Goes On IR

The Denver Broncos have had a revolving door lately when it comes to injured players and returning players, and the latest edition of that was the activation of receiver Pat Bryant, with defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike going out with an injured shoulder, according to a pair of separate reports from Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk and Sam Jane of the Denver Post. 

Bryant was activated on Saturday afternoon after missing four games with an ankle injury, and he was designated for return when he resumed practicing with the team this week.

Before the injury, Bryant had nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in four games. The Broncos also signed cornerback Sean Fresch off the practice squad, and Safety Taylor Rapp and running back Cody Schrader were elevated from the practice squad in a pair of other moves.

As for Uwazureki,  on injured reserve after he injured his shoulder against Kansas City last week. He will now miss at least the next four games, and will first be eligible to return to action on Dec. 13 when the Broncos travel to play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14. The severity of Uwazurike’s injury was not immediately clear.

Uwazurike was a fourth-round pick in 2022, and the fourth-year defensive lineman has played well this season in a rotational role, participating more than 300 snaps as a backup. He’s recorded 16 pressures and seven run stops, according to Pro Football Focus.

After defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers departed this offseason, Uwazurike was deemed as a breakout player by Broncos’ players and coaches in the preseason. He’s been passed on the depth chart by Malcolm Roach in the starting lineup since, but he has been a dependable run defender recently. Urazurke was also fined $6,361 for a face mask infraction in the first quarter against the Chiefs, so last Sunday was a tough game for him. 

In his absence, the Broncos will likely lean on defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones, Jordan Jackson and third-round rookie Tyler Onyedim as replacements. The Texas A&M product has been a healthy scratch since Week 1.

The Broncos are also still waiting to hear about the final status of safety Talanoa Hufanga, who returned to practice but was declared questionable in the injury report at the end of the week, so presumably his status will be clarified on Sunday morning. The Broncos are currently 6-2 and a half-game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West going into tomorrow’s game againt the Carolina Panthers.