ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As if the Denver Broncos did not go away Seattle with sufficient disappointment packed of their baggage, security Justin Simmons suffered a thigh damage within the Week 1 loss that can hold him out at the very least a month.
Simmons, who performed each defensive snap Monday night time within the Broncos’ 17-16 loss to the Seahawks, was formally moved to injured reserve Wednesday afternoon. It means Simmons, who has been the Broncos’ iron man, will miss at the very least the following 4 video games.
The soonest he might return can be for the Oct. 16 sport towards the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Broncos promoted cornerback Essang Bassey to fill Simmons’ spot on the roster and in addition signed former Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles security Anthony Harris to the apply squad. Bassey, 24, has performed in 13 video games over final two seasons with the Broncos, whereas the 30-year-old Harris has performed in 95 profession video games.
Simmons is among the group captains and has been named to the Professional Bowl as soon as in addition to being named a second-team All Professional twice in his profession.
Although the Broncos had already determined to maneuver Simmons to injured reserve and signed Harris, coach Nathaniel Hackett would solely say Simmons was “going to overlook a while” earlier than Wednesday’s apply.
Requested straight if Simmons can be out Sunday towards the Houston Texans, Hackett mentioned: “We’re nonetheless evaluating all the pieces, getting a really feel for what is going on to occur … however we’re assuming he will miss a while.”
Simmons, 28, has began the final 66 video games, together with Monday’s season opener, and had a stretch from the beginning of the 2018 season till the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the New York Jets final season when he performed each snap — greater than 3,211 consecutive snaps in all.
These three snaps he did not play within the 26-0 win over the Jets and the 2 snaps he did not play on Dec. 26 towards the Las Vegas Raiders had been the one defensive performs he had missed for the reason that begin of the 2018 season.
He missed the final three video games of the 2017 season with an ankle damage.
Towards the Seahawks, Simmons completed with 9 tackles and recovered a fumble. He didn’t look like limping as he left the sector Monday night time, however had expressed some discomfort with the damage to the group’s medical employees on Tuesday.
“It is onerous to exchange a man like Justin Simmons,” security Kareem Jackson mentioned. “What he does in our protection, what he does in our locker room along with his management. It is robust.”
Caden Sterns, who was a fifth-round choose within the 2021 draft, can be the almost certainly candidate to exchange Simmons within the Broncos’ lineup.
“Caden Sterns [has] performed a ton of ball on this league. … He is very prepared for the state of affairs, prepared for the chance,” Jackson mentioned.
