The Denver Broncos are back in action, having spent the week preparing to face the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. Hopefully, the Broncos’ Week 9 bye allowed Sean Payton to fine-tune a football program that had been steadily improving over the previous three weeks.
While the Broncos still have far too many players on injured reserve, they are as healthy as fans could hope for heading into Week 10. Another advantage of the bye.
The Bills, on the other hand, have yet to return from their bye week and are a much more injured team. Following Saturday’s practices, both teams released their final injury report for Monday night.
Let’s examine.
Broncos
Full Go
- Baron Browning | OLB | Wrist
- Ben Powers | OG | Ankle
Browning has been a revelation since rejoining the team in Week 7. He’d been on the PUP list for the previous six games, but his return couldn’t have come at a better time. His wrist has been bothering him, but he participated fully in all three practices this week.
Powers, whom the Broncos signed to a large contract in the offseason, has been excellent at left guard. He’s a big part of Denver’s on-field resurgence. Powers, like Browning, was not limited in any of this week’s practices.
Bills
Out
- Christian Benford | CB | Hamstring
- Micah Hyde | S | Neck/Stinger
Questionable
- Terrel Bernard | LB | Concussion
Full Go
- Stefon Diggs | WR | Back
- Josh Allen | QB | Shoulder (Right)
- Leonard Floyd | DE | Illness
- A.J. Klein | LB | Back
- Jordan Poyer | S | Shin
- Baylon Specter | LB | Hamstring
Analysis: Diggs’ Week 10 status was in doubt, but he’s back, as is Allen — the Bills’ most important player. Allen’s injury, however, is to his throwing shoulder, so keep an eye on that on Monday night.
Diggs was limited in practice all week, so his designation as a full go is puzzling, but the Bills are clearly confident he’ll be ready. Covering Diggs and a talented Bills receiving corps will be difficult for the Broncos.
Similar to Week 8, the model for the Broncos is to keep Allen and company on the sideline with sustained drives that eat clock and result in touchdowns. Easier said than done, certainly, but if the Broncos’ defensive resurgence isn’t fool’s gold, this is a game that could go down to the wire, despite the oddsmakers favoring Buffalo by 7.5 points at home.
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