The Denver Broncos just had their first pads practice of camp yesterday, and it kicked off with a major gut punch: starting center Luke Wattenberg exited with what looked like an apparent arm injury and didn’t come back. Talk about a jolt!
Early Injury, Seasoned Backup
Head Coach Sean Payton, ever the calm in the storm, expressed confidence Wattenberg wouldn’t miss much time. But let’s be real, the actual extent of the injury and timeline for his return? Totally unknown. That’s a classic wait and see, fingers crossed situation. If Wattenberg does miss time, though, the Broncos aren’t totally lost. Fourth-year pro Alex Forsyth is ready to step up. This guy was a seventh-round draft pick out of Oregon, part of Payton’s very first draft class with the team. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad, but since then, he’s been in every single game for the last two seasons, racking up six starts. Payton couldn’t stop praising Forsyth, calling him “super savvy and smart,” even adding, “He’s one of the smarter guys in that room. You don’t feel a young player. You feel like, if you interviewed him, you’d feel like you’re talking to a seven-year vet.” Payton finished by saying Forsyth is “a little bit of an old soul that way and much appreciated though. He’s really talented.” That’s high praise for a backup, and it definitely shows the Broncos have built some serious insurance policies.
The Depth Strategy Pays Off
This kind of built-in depth isn’t an accident. It’s a hallmark of the Sean Payton era, which has already seen the Broncos nab back-to-back playoff berths and their first division title in a decade. They’ve swung big trades, pulled in top free agents, and drafted a ton of quality contributors. But the real unsung hero in this three-year turnaround? It’s that loaded depth, especially on the offensive line, which is a huge reason they even talk Super Bowl contention. This early injury challenge just highlights how crucial that strategy is. It is not just the offense, though. Their defense, particularly the secondary, is stacked with talent and was reportedly a key reason the defense dominated the offense in practice yesterday.
Secondary Talent Waiting in the Wings
Sitting right in the thick of that talented defensive backfield is second-year cornerback Jahdae Barron. This dude was their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a Jim Thorpe Award winner no less. Even with the high-profile trio of Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, and Ja’Quan McMillian slated to start again, Barron is on the hunt for an even bigger role in 2026. As a rookie, he appeared in every game, starting five times. He posted 35 tackles, broke up 7 passes, forced a fumble, and grabbed an interception. He saw 334 snaps, which was roughly 30 percent of the defense’s total in ’25. Not bad for a rookie, but you know he’s itching for more. This kind of talent waiting in the wings is what makes a team seriously competitive.
So, while the Luke Wattenberg injury is a bummer, the Broncos look like they’re built to handle it thanks to their commitment to depth. With guys like Alex Forsyth ready to step up on the O-line and Jahdae Barron hungry for more snaps in that secondary, it’s clear Payton’s vision is all about weathering these early season bumps. It’ll be interesting to see how these players perform as camp continues and the season gets closer.
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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