The Denver Broncos are placing wide receiver Pat Bryant on short-term injured reserve, and he is officially out for the next four weeks. This is a tough break, especially since he was initially expected to avoid IR, but the team’s need for roster flexibility ultimately forced their decision.
Roster Crunch Hits Hard for Denver
Bryant’s ankle injury, which he suffered back on October 4 against the 49ers, is the official reason for the move. While there was an initial belief that the Broncos could somehow dodge putting him on IR, that wasn’t going to happen. The big issue? Roster spots. Denver needs to call up Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad to the active roster, and they are also scrambling for cornerback help. With Pat Surtain II already out and Riley Moss potentially sidelined too, the team needs those spots. Bryant was close to returning for the four game minimum anyway, so the move made sense for the front office, even if it hurts on the field.
Offense Takes Another Hit Ahead of Chargers Clash
This means the Broncos could be without three key starters heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The offense has been pretty disappointing to start the season, we are talking early season struggles here. Bryant, though, has been one of the few bright spots, stepping up when the Broncos needed points. He has racked up 9 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown through three and a half games. Losing that kind of consistency is a massive blow for an offense already struggling to find its rhythm. They are definitely going to need him back down the stretch if they want to turn this season around.
Look, this is a tough spot for Denver. They are heading into a Week 5 game against the Chargers already down key guys, and now Bryant’s out for a month. They are going to miss his consistent play, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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