EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Broncos running back Tyler Badie was immobilized on the team’s sideline and carted to the locker room with an apparent back injury during the first quarter of Sunday’s road win against the New York Jets.
Head coach Sean Payton declined to provide an update on Badie’s status after the game, repeatedly saying, “no update” to questions about his status and to whether he’d travel home on the team’s charter flight Sunday evening.
Separate sources with knowledge of the situation didn’t add much detail Sunday evening, but one told The Post, “he’s going to be alright” and another added, “he’s doing OK.”
The injury occurred late in the first quarter when Badie took a hit to the back from New York linebacker Quincy Williams, resulting in a fumble and a Jets recovery.
Williams’ helmet hit Badie directly in the lower side/back area. Badie was able to walk to the sideline but soon after went to the ground and eventually found himself laying flat on his back as training staff attended to him.
Running back Javonte Williams came over to check on him, but after a time on the ground the medical staff placed Badie on a stretcher and immobilized him.
Then he was loaded on a cart and driven across the field toward the Denver locker room. The Broncos ruled out his return to the game fairly quickly but provided no further updates on Badie’s condition.
“Only thing I know is I just saw him on the ground crying,” Javonte Williams told The Post after the game. “I don’t really know what happened or how it went down, but I know ‘T.B.’ is strong.
“He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior and he’s going to be alright. We’re all praying for him and I know he’ll get back and help us out.”
Badie, a former Missouri standout, was promoted to the 53-man roster on Wednesday after he rushed for 70 yards on nine carries in a 26-7 win over the Buccaneers in Week 3.
“T.B.’s always been a fighter so I know he’s going to figure something out and come back and compete and keep pushing everybody and you never know what can happen,” Williams said.
Mims returns after hit. Broncos return man Marvin Mims Jr. took a crushing hit from Jets wide receiver Irvin Charles on a punt in the first half.
Mims was looking up to catch the ball and signaled for a fair catch, but before the ball arrived Charles blasted him. Mims had an injury to his ribs, the team said, but he later returned to the game.
It was one of 13 enforced penalties against the Jets, who had 90 penalty yards on the afternoon.
