Broncos center Tom Nalen will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Nalen, 37, is expected to be out until at least until the team’s final minicamp on July 7-8, but is not expected to miss any training camp that starts July 25.
“He should be full speed by the time we go to camp,” said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
Now that kicker Jason Elam has left for Atlanta and receiver Rod Smith is all but officially retired, Nalen is the Broncos” highest tenured player as he’s entering his 15th season.
This is Nalen’s second injury setback in a year. He suffered a season-ending torn biceps injury in the season’s fifth game last year against San Diego.
With Nalen out, Casey Wiegmann centered the first-team offense Thursday. Wiegmann has been a starter for nine of his 12 NFL seasons, including the previous seven in Kansas City.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
