Mike McGlinchey is going to be sidelined for a matter of weeks rather than days.
The Broncos right tackle sprained his left MCL in Sunday’s 13-6 loss to Pittsburgh, a source confirmed to The Denver Post, and he’s expected to miss approximately four weeks because of the injury. NFL Network first reported the extent of the injury.
The nature of the sprain puts Denver in a position where it will have to decide whether to place McGlinchey on injured reserve — he’d have to miss at least four games in that case — or attempt to ride it out and see if he can get back earlier than that.
“Obviously he’s a hell of a player,” Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen told reporters Monday afternoon. “… I think he’s definitely one of the top tackles in the league so it’s definitely going to be a blow, but I think that room is really deep and he’s such a great leader that whoever steps up, he’s going to help out a lot. We have full confidence in that room.
“They’ve done a lot of good for us.”
The injury happened in the fourth quarter when McGlinchey got pushed into a pile by Pittsburgh pass-rusher T.J. Watt and got his leg rolled up on by Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles.
Bolles was also hurt on the play but stayed in the game.
In McGlinchey’s place, the Broncos turned to second-year tackle Alex Palczewksi for the final snaps of the game. He would seem to be the most logical replacement for McGlinchey, though Denver does also have undrafted rookie tackle Frank Crum or swing tackle Matt Peart, too, if it wants to try different options.
Peart has the most experience of the group, but he played only left tackle during camp and the preseason and has also served the regular-season role as the Broncos’ jumbo tight end.
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The Broncos in 2023 started the same five offensive linemen in the first 16 games of the season before McGlinchey missed the final game with an injury to his ribs. This year, Denver is having to dip into its depth up front much earlier.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Monday called the offense’s overall pass protection and run blocking against Pittsburgh “inconsistent.”
“There are times we’d do a pretty good job and there are times we’re either allowing penetration or getting beat maybe right at the snap,” he said. “We’ve got to be more consistent. I think that’s the one thing that you’d definitely take away from it.”
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