SAN DIEGO — Better have a couple extra magnetic resonance imaging machine operators called in Monday morning.
A long line of Broncos awaits. Brandon Marshall, the Broncos’ starting weakside linebacker and leading tackler, suffered an injury to his right foot during the first half against the San Diego Chargers and didn’t return.
X-rays were negative, but Marshall hobbled out with a protective boot on his foot. The extent of his injury won’t be known until he undergoes an MRI exam Monday.
Danny Trevathan, the Broncos’ starting weakside linebacker and leading tackler last season, returned to play Sunday after missing 11 of the previous 13 games with two separate fractures near the left kneecap.
Trevathan hobbled out favoring that same left knee Sunday.
“It felt like it got hyperextended,” Trevathan said. “I feel good, though. Not the same as I did when I hurt it before.”
More will be known after he undergoes an MRI on Monday.
“We’ve had issues at linebacker all season,” said Broncos coach John Fox, who also lost starting middle linebacker Nate Irving to a season-ending knee injury.
Ryan Clady, the Broncos’ left offensive tackle, left the game early with a strained quad and didn’t return. He was replaced by Chris Clark, who started 17 games at left tackle last season after Clady went down with a season-ending Lisfranc fracture.
Clark started at right tackle earlier this season, but he is a much better left tackle.
“You always have to be ready in the NFL,” Clark said. “Even though I wasn’t starting, I prepared every week as if I was going to start. Once I got warmed up, I felt like I never left.”
Osweiler makes cameo. After waiting nearly three years to get meaningful playing time, backup quarterback Brock Osweiler got his chance Sunday. With Peyton Manning in the locker room getting treatment, Osweiler was sent in with 1:27 left in the first half, the Broncos up 9-0, and the ball was at Denver’s 26-yard line.
Offensive coordinator Adam Gase showed confidence in Osweiler by letting him go through the two-minute drill. It lasted only 17 seconds.
Osweiler’s first pass was batted dangerously in the air before falling incomplete. He went back to pass on second down, but as he was about to get sacked by Dwight Freeney, Osweiler threw the ball toward his offensive line and was flagged for intentional grounding.
On third-and-20, Osweiler handed off to C.J. Anderson, who ran out of bounds to stop the clock with 1:10 remaining. The Chargers then got a 58-yard punt return from former Bronco Eddie Royal that led to a field goal.
“I’m a little disappointed with myself,” Osweiler said. “We could have gotten three (points) or seven at best, and instead we gave them three. But I’ll learn from it, and we’ll move forward.”
Just for kicks. Connor Barth is living right. He hasn’t lost or missed a kick since joining the Broncos, tying the franchise record of five field goals twice in three games.
“The line, (holder) Britton (Colquitt) and (snapper Aaron) Brewer are money for me,” Barth said. “I have never been to the playoffs, never won a division title. I have had one winning season in six years. It’s just cool. This organization is first-class. Everyone is nice, and it helps when you make kicks, too.”
Footnotes. Broncos linebacker Todd Davis, who joined the team a month ago, on replacing Marshall and Trevathan: “This is a great group of guys who took me in. It feels good to contribute.” … Chargers safety Eric Weddle dyed his ZZ Top-esque beard blue for the game. … Chargers defensive back Shareece Wright remained disappointed by an interference call when covering Wes Welker that extended a Broncos’ scoring drive. “Week to week it’s different,” he said. “Some allow to play a little more, some don’t.”
