The Denver Broncos will need all available resources if they hope to maintain their winning streak. They secured their third straight victory, improving to 3-2 this season, with a 34-18 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 6.
To sustain this success, protecting rookie quarterback Bo Nix and ensuring the running game remains effective are crucial. However, recent injuries to the offensive line pose significant challenges. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggests that the team should sign veteran offensive tackle Blake Hance from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad to help alleviate some of these issues.
“The Broncos emerged victorious against the Raiders, but their offensive line took a toll during the game,” Ballentine noted. “Alex Palczewski, filling in for injured Mike McGlinchey, suffered an ankle injury, and center Luke Wattenberg also left the game, further depleting the offensive front.”
Ballentine continued, “Finding offensive line help during the season is challenging, but they could potentially acquire a player from a practice squad. Blake Hance has proven to be reliable in spot starts with the Jaguars and Browns, making it worthwhile to consider adding him to the active roster.”
Analyzing the Offensive Line Injury Situation
Heavy.com’s Josh Buckhalter elaborated on the troubling state of the Broncos’ offensive line injuries following their win over the Raiders.
“The Broncos signed Matt Peart in free agency during the 2024 offseason. A third-round pick in the 2020 draft by the New York Giants, Peart has played seven of his 47 games over five seasons,” Buckhalter explained. “Palczewski is listed as the top backup at both guard positions on the Broncos’ depth chart, effectively weakening the line at two spots. Additionally, rookie undrafted free agent Frank Crum is available. Bo Nix’s college teammate, Alex Forsyth, is next in line at center. Forsyth, a seventh-round pick by the Broncos in 2023, competed with the more experienced Wattenberg for the starting position during training camp.”
Hance’s Journey
Hance, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 310 pounds, was a four-year starter at Northwestern, where he played 46 games from 2015 to 2018 and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after making eight starts at left tackle.
After going undrafted in 2019, Hance developed into a journeyman offensive lineman over the past six seasons, playing for six different teams, including a second stint with the Jaguars. He has participated in nearly every game over the last three seasons, achieving a career-high eight starts at right tackle for the Browns in 2021.
The Broncos will face another AFC West rival when they host the Los Angeles Chargers on October 7, followed by a short week leading to a nationally-televised Thursday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints on October 17, where head coach Sean Payton previously spent 16 seasons.
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