Broncos prized offseason signing goes down with injury in camp

One of the Denver Broncos big free agent signings is already sidelined in training camp due to injury.

The Denver Broncos made multiple moves this offseason to ensure that the team can turn things around. After all, they traded for a former Super Bowl-winning head coach, Sean Payton. Then, they made a plethora of moves in NFL free agency in an attempt to ensure that they can win more than the five games they won last year.

Early on in training camp, the Broncos watched one of their big signings suffer an injury, and they are now sidelined.

Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey suffered a knee sprain and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. The injury occurred when he was rolled up on during training camp practice on Tuesday.

9News’ Mike Klis reports that McGlinchey will specifically miss around two-to-three weeks, which puts him on pace to be ready for the team’s season-opening game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Mike McGlinchey sidelined for a few weeks due to knee sprain

Payton confirmed that he will be out for a few weeks, but stressed by saying that the injury was “all good.”

Last year, the Broncos offensive line struggled to keep quarterback Russell Wilson upright. While the offense’s struggles can be contributed to Wilson’s drop in production and then-head coach Nathaniel Hackett’s play-calling, the line didn’t hold up either. Denver’s defense allowed an NFL-high 63 sacks last year.

This offseason, the Broncos wasted no time in bringing in a big offensive tackle to stand parallel to left tackle Garett Bolles. That was McGlinchey, who had been with the San Francisco 49ers as a 2018 first-round draft pick out of Notre Dame. The Broncos signed McGlinchey to a massive five-year, $87.5 million contract.

Last season, McGlinchey allowed six sacks and was penalized 10 times on 1,036 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

McGlinchey could miss the first two preseason games at minimum, with the potential of missing the preseason finale. But, the Broncos aren’t worried about McGlinchey’s knee long-term, and feel he’ll be ready to go for the regular season.