The Broncos are going to be without Mike McGlinchey for at least the next four games.
Denver placed its starting right tackle on injured reserve Wednesday, the team announced, after he sprained his left MCL in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh. The earliest McGlinchey is eligible to return is Week 7 for a Thursday night game at New Orleans.
That puts second-year tackle Alex Palczewski in line to start at right tackle for Denver on Sunday at Tampa Bay. He played the Broncos’ final two snaps against the Steelers and now has the first crack at locking down the job in McGlinchey’s absence.
“It’s an awesome opportunity,” Palczewski said. “I’m excited to go out there and try to help the team win and just play for the guy next to me. That’s the thing I always care about is that offensive line is the only job where your sole job is to protect someone else. I’m excited to go play for the guys in here and play my first game.”
Palczewski spent most of his rookie season in 2023 on injured reserve but got a couple of weeks of practice at the end of the season. He said this offseason has been critical for him. The University of Illinois product whom head coach Sean Payton calls “Palcho” started 65 collegiate games.
“I mean, obviously there’s going to be a level of nerves,” Palczewski said. “But I did six years at Illinois. I’ve got plenty of starts under my belt. But obviously, it’s the NFL and there’s a lot of really good players. I’m just going to do the best job I can, work on my technique and just know that I’m going to give as much effort as I can.”
Palczewski said he spent most of the offseason here and trained with McGlinchey for much of that period.
“There’s so many leaders in the room and you can just go straight down the line, but Mike McGlinchey has helped me tenfold since I got here,” Palczewski said. “It’s been an awesome time here so far.”
Payton during training camp described Palczewski as a player who just finds a way to get the job done and is “extremely smart.”
“There are maybe some things athletically he’s not as gifted at,” Payton said Aug. 5. “Yet when the pads come on and you get into these live reps or somewhat live reps, you check the box and say, ‘He does his job.’”
Tight end Adam Trautman on Wednesday said Denver’s offensive players are confident in the former undrafted free agent’s ability to step into the starting lineup.
“He’s been great,” Trautman said. “He practices hard as hell. Last year he didn’t even practice until late in the season and he came back and it was like, ‘Wow, it looks like you didn’t miss a step.’ He’s been great all through the offseason and training camp. Super dependable, super hard-working and he’s very in tune with his technique and assignment.
“We’re excited to have a guy like ‘Palcho’ step up.”
Tillman up. The Broncos promoted OLB Dondrea Tillman to the 53-man roster to take McGlinchey’s roster spot. Tillman, a former UFL standout, spent the offseason with Denver and was on the practice squad for the first two weeks of the regular season.
That’s the second OLB-related move the Broncos have made since Baron Browning’s foot injury Sunday. On Wednesday they also finalized the signing of Andrew Farmer, a former Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher, to the practice squad.
Browning did not practice Wednesday and was not seen during the portion of practice open to reporters. Payton was asked about his status but declined to provide an update.
Banged up Broncos. Browning wasn’t the only one who missed Wednesday’s practice. DL John Franklin-Myers is working through the concussion protocol and did conditioning work on the side field but was a non-participant. Safeties Brandon Jones (foot) and JL Skinner (ankle) were also DNPs.
WRs Josh Reynolds (Achilles) and Devaughn Vele (ribs) were limited, as were TEs Greg Dulcich (knee/ankle) and Adam Trautman (shoulder) and DL Zach Allen (shoulder).
