The Broncos certainly didn’t escape Sunday afternoon’s victory with the Green Bay Packers unscathed.
Denver came out of halftime down a notable starter on defense, as reserve P.J. Locke rotated in at free safety for his first truly meaningful defensive action of the season. A short few plays later, the cause was revealed: starter Brandon Jones was ruled out with a pec injury, a notable blow to an already-struggling Broncos secondary.
It was the topper to a slew of orange-clad players who were bruised and battered in Sunday’s 34-26 — a chippy cross-conference game that had the feel of a division-rivalry matchup in Denver.
Star cornerback Pat Surtain was banged up in the first half, sitting out a play. Wide receiver and All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. — who’d already missed two games earlier this season with a concussion — was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and ruled questionable with a stinger in the second half.
Mims later returned in the second half, finishing with four catches for 29 yards on six targets.
“It was fine,” Mims told The Denver Post after the game, regarding the stinger. “Just lost some feeling in my arm.”
A key member of the Broncos’ special-teams unit went down in the first quarter on Sunday, too. Linebacker Justin Strnad crumpled on the grass after a Denver punt. Strnad limped off with the assistance of trainers and went straight to the sideline medical tent, unable to put any weight on his right leg. He eventually went to the locker room with an ankle injury and didn’t return.
Both Jones and Strnad were significant losses for Denver. Jones has been a key member of the Broncos’ back-line for two seasons, entering Sunday’s game with 189 tackles combined in 2024 and 2025, and has been terrific in coverage this season. Strnad, meanwhile, has filled in capably at both starting linebacker spots in the absence of Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton this season, and has been a key player on special teams for the Broncos the last few weeks.
The Broncos recently signed undrafted rookie Jordan Turner to the 53-man roster, and will likely need to search for more depth at linebacker if Strnad is out.
Locke, meanwhile, will need to step in at strong safety if veteran Jones misses considerable time.
“It’s the next-man-up mentality,” Locke told The Denver Post after the win. “It’s a tough situation, and I really pray it’s not as bad as what it sounds like. Hopefully, he gets some good news in the morning. He’s an awesome player. It’s hard to replace him.”
McGlinchey active: The Broncos received a rather inopportune scare on Friday, when right tackle Mike McGlinchey landed on the injury report as questionable against the Packers with a shoulder injury. His absence would’ve thrust reserve Frank Crum — who’s never started a game at tackle in two seasons in Denver — against All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, whom the Broncos have scouted closely this week.
On Sunday, though, McGlinchey did an early warm-up and then went through his normal pre-game routine with Crum, a swath of black tape peeking out from McGlinchey’s shirt around his right shoulder. And McGlinchey was deemed healthy enough to join the front line against Parsons.
Other elevations: Rookie linebacker Turner was officially signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday, with tight end Marcedes Lewis waived, as Turner has become a key member of Darren Rizzi’s special-teams unit. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan State has made a name for himself in short order in Denver, moving ahead of Levelle Bailey for inside linebacker depth.
With rookie Pat Bryant out with a hamstring injury, the Broncos also promoted practice-squad mainstay Michael Bandy for the second time this season in the stead of recent free-agent addition Elijah Moore, who’s been in Denver for a couple of weeks. Bandy came through in a big way in the second quarter, catching a short pass from Bo Nix and taking it for a 20-yard score — the first NFL touchdown of the 28-year-old journeyman’s career.
