The Broncos appear to have dodged a rare injury bullet, with Von Miller suffering a sprained ankle that may not force him to miss any additional time. But their defense did take another hit Thursday night.
Mike Purcell suffered a “significant” finger injury, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The third-year Denver nose tackle is going through an MRI that will determine whether surgery will be necessary, but it sounds like the interior defensive lineman is set to miss some time. Purcell will join a host of Broncos defenders in doing so.
Injuries have gutted the Broncos’ front seven, which was without linebackers Bradley Chubb, Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell against the Browns. Miller did not play in the second half. Cleveland’s third-string running back, Alliance of American Football alum D’Ernest Johnson, gashed Denver’s depleted unit for 146 rushing yards.
A fellow AAF contributor, Purcell caught on with the Broncos in 2019. He moved into the team’s starting lineup midway through that season and provided a boost against the run. The Broncos rewarded Purcell with a three-year, $11.5MM deal early in the 2020 campaign. Purcell and D-lineman Shelby Harris are signed long-term. Purcell’s extension runs through the 2023 season.
Shades of last year, it seems, in Denver. The number of injuries to their starters is just staggering. Last game against Cleveland, their entire starting line backing corps was out after Miller had his injury.
I’d like to say “next man up” in a stereotypical coaching sound it’s kind of way, but I’m not sure who all Denver has left as far injury fill-ins go.
If teams are being crippled by injuries now just imagine what it will be like when the league adopts the 18 game schedule.
Dudes hog is legit
Purcell has a motor, but hasn’t contributed as much as he potentially should. Who’s at fault, the player or the coaching staff?