Broncos Place RT Mike McGlinchey On IR
The Broncos enjoyed near-perfect attendance along their offensive line last season. As the team attempts to develop Bo Nix, one of its blockers will be out of the mix for a while.
Not intending to go week-to-week with Mike McGlinchey‘s MCL sprain, Denver is placing (via 9News’ Mike Klis) its right tackle on IR. The high-priced blocker went down during the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers and will be unable to return until at least Week 7.
This move comes weeks after the team lost swing backup Quinn Bailey for the season. Alex Palczewski, a 2023 UDFA who did not play as a rookie, is set to step in, per Sean Payton. Palczewski spent all of last season on IR, being placed on the injured list just before last season.
Given a five-year, $87.5MM deal, McGlinchey started 16 games in his Broncos debut. This came as Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Lloyd Cushenberry and Quinn Meinerz suited up for 17 contests. This remarkable run of health contrasted from the 2022 season, when Denver played stretches without Bolles, Cushenberry and Meinerz. That year also featured RT instability, leading to yet another investment in a position the franchise had struggled to fill since the Peyton Manning years.
In Week 1, McGlinchey became the first Bronco to open back-to-back seasons at right tackle since Orlando Franklin from 2012-13. The Broncos poached the veteran from the 49ers, who had stood down while paying Trent Williams top LT money, and gave him a contract that called for his 2025 salary ($17.5MM) to become fully guaranteed in March 2024. McGlinchey’s 2025 money vested after he submitted a middling first season in Denver. Though, the Broncos could find a gulf between a seventh-year vet — who was a top-10 pick — and a UDFA set for his third career game.
The team signed Matt Peart as a swing option this offseason, and the veteran played both right and left tackle in New York. Palczewski, 25, earned second-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America acclaim in his final Fighting Illini season. After being in Payton’s system for a year (albeit on IR), he will be entrusted to help protect Nix amid the rookie QB’s sluggish start.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/24
Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Jason Taylor II
- Released: G Marquis Hayes
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Josh Woods
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Russ Yeast
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: WR Shedrick Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Jaelon Darden, RB Royce Freeman
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OLB Andrew Farmer
Houston Texans
- Signed: C Scott Quessenberry, TE Irv Smith, DT Tommy Togiai
- Released: T Braeden Daniels, LB Max Tooley
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Peyton Hendershot
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Tanner Brown
- Released: T Ty Nsekhe
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Jackson Carman
- Released: WR Robbie Chosen
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Marcellus Johnson
- Released: T Ricky Lee
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Jalen Reagor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Caden Sterns
- Released: TE Kevin Foelsch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB D’Shawn Jamison, WR Jaray Jenkins, CB James Pierre
- Released: WR Shaquan Davis, CB Zyon Gilbert
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Kevon Seymour
Woods joins the Falcons’ practice squad after a workout last week that also included veterans Kwon Alexander and Rashaan Evans.
The Browns are adding Freeman after the seven-year veteran was released by the Cowboys before the regular season. Freeman could potentially pitch in as the team keeps working without Nick Chubb.
Yeast becomes the next former-Rams defensive back to join the Panthers. Current Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero used to serve as the secondary coach in Los Angeles, and Yeast joins Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, and Troy Hill as former students of Evero to sign a deal with the Panthers.
Chosen’s time off the Dolphins’ practice squad could be a short one. Chosen was called up as a standard gameday elevation twice in the first two weeks of the season, reaching his limit for the year. If the team re-signs him to a new practice squad contract, his count should start over.
Reagor saw 11 games and a start last year for New England, catching seven passes for 138 yards as a deep threat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Patriots will be giving him similar opportunities this year after this release.
Pierre played a big part in the Steelers’ secondary in 2021 and 2022, starting six games and logging an interception in each season. His role was extremely reduced last year with the arrivals of Joey Porter Jr.. and Patrick Peterson, but his experience could be crucial in a position room that only rosters five cornerbacks as Cameron Sutton remains on suspension.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/24
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed from practice squad: TE Feleipe Franks
- Released: TE Jordan Matthews
- Waived: OLB Eku Leota
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DE K.J. Henry
Denver Broncos
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: DL Ronnie Perkins
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: LB Tyler Matakevich
A transaction mainstay since being included in the 2017 trade that brought Ronald Darby to Philadelphia from Buffalo, Matthews has since moved to tight end and been with the Panthers since 2023. Matthews later made it back to Philly and has been with five NFL teams since being a 2014 second-round pick. He started one game for the TE-depleted Panthers this season. Franks is a converted quarterback who has played in Carolina’s first two games as a gameday elevation. A 2023 Panthers UDFA, Leota logged a 2024 start and recorded a sack. But the second-year player is now on the wire.
Broncos RT Mike McGlinchey Suffers MCL Sprain
The Broncos will be shorthanded along the offensive line for the time being. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey is dealing with an MCL sprain, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Garafolo notes the sprain is “significant,” and McGlinchey thus appears to be set to miss roughly one month. Further testing will be needed to determine an exact recovery timeline. Nonetheless, his absence will deal a blow to a Denver offense which has struggled on offense in general and on the ground in particular.
The 0-2 Broncos currently rank 19th in passing yardage per game, but only 27th with an average of 81.5 rushing yards per contest. The team has invested heavily under head coach Sean Payton along the O-line, with McGlinchey and left guard Ben Powers landing big-ticket free agent deals in 2023. Right guard Quinn Meinerz secured a lucrative extension this offseason, but the unit has not performed as hoped so far.
McGlinchey, 30, played his first four seasons with the 49ers, starting each of his 75 regular and postseason appearances. The former No. 9 pick drew consistent PFF evaluations based on his run blocking in particular, although his pass protection was a point of contention. As expected, San Francisco allowed him to depart on the open market and he signed a five-year, $87.5MM deal with the Broncos. The Notre Dame product ranked 39th amongst tackles in terms of PFF grades last season, roughly in line with his past evaluations.
While McGlinchey is sidelined for a notable stretch (placing him on injured reserve would guarantee a four-week absence), Denver will have the option of using Alex Palczewski in his place. The former UDFA took over at right tackle at the end of the contest after McGlinchey was injured. The Broncos also have veteran Matt Peart in place as a candidate to fill in along the first-team offensive line.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/24
Saturday’s minor transactions and gameday practice squad callups:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jackson Barton
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB John Kelly
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: TE Feleipe Franks
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: TE Princeton Fant, LB Nick Vigil
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: WR Tom Kennedy, WR Tim Patrick
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: QB Sean Clifford
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Genard Avery, S Ronnie Harrison
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: CB Christian Braswell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, CB Sam Webb
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Tony Jefferson, LB Shaquille Quarterman
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Myles Gaskin, DL Jonah Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: S Ugo Amadi, LB Isaiah Stalbird
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Tomon Fox, LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: WR Gunner Olszewski
New York Jets
- Elevated: DE Jalyn Holmes
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tracy Walker
- Placed on IR: RB Christian McCaffrey (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: T McClendon Curtis, RB George Holani
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Luke Gifford
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: LB Nick Bellore
- Elevated: CB Bobby Price, DE Carlos Watkins
Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts after a Saints trade was discussed. The 30-year-old missed the 2022 and ’23 campaigns due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, quickly landing a practice squad deal with the Lions. He is now positioned make his season debut tomorrow as a complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack.
Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury and he was known to be facing a long-term absence. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise, but it ensures at least a four-week absence. The former All-Pro scored a punt return touchdown with Pittsburgh early last season and added another during his 10-game Giants stretch to close out the year. The team will need to rely on other options in the return game for the time being.
Broncos LT Garett Bolles Addresses Playing Future
Garett Bolles is a pending free agent who has expressed interest in remaining with the Broncos beyond 2024. Regardless of if that happens or not, the eighth-year left tackle intends to continue playing for the foreseeable future. 
Bolles inked a four-year, 68MM extension during John Elway‘s final season as general manager. Since then, the regime led by GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton has made a number of lucrative investments up front. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Ben Powers were added as outside free agents, while right guard Quinn Meinerz landed a big-ticket extension this offseason.
That has led to questions about Bolles’ future in Denver, although the team did not consider trading him ahead of the 2024 campaign. The 32-year-old has made it clear he hopes to continue his tenure in the Mile High City, but another lucrative contract will be challenging given the other commitments already on the books along O-line. Bolles will not consider retirement in the event a new Broncos accord is not worked out, though.
“I pride myself on that I feel like I’m in good health,” the former first-rounder said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). “I feel like my mind and body feel great. I feel young for what everybody wants to say my age is. I feel like I can play for a lot more years.”
Bolles is the team’s longest-tenured player and he is set to remain the unquestioned starter along the blindside. A veteran of 100 games, he has yet to make a playoff appearance but his career has consisted of consistent play as a full-time left tackle contributor. Bolles finished 19th amongst all tackles in overall PFF grade last season, and another strong campaign in 2024 would help his free agent stock.
A number of high-end blockers have managed to continue their careers well into their 30s, especially if they manage to remain healthy along the way. Bolles has missed notable time only once (in 2022), so the former second-team All-Pro could draw attention on the open market if he were to avoid a major injury this year. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos pursue another extension over the coming months or if they allow Bolles to test free agency in 2025. Either way, he will be aiming for another multi-year pact given his comments.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OT Charlie Heck
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Feleipe Franks
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DL Chris Smith
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronnie Harrison Jr., CB Kelvin Joseph
- Released: DE Titus Leo
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Dicaprio Bootle
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jackson Sirmon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Caden Sterns
- Released: TE Jack Stoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Chris Hubbard
- Released: DE Jonathan Garvin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Kyron Johnson
Broncos To Place RB Audric Estime On IR
The Broncos kept four running backs on their active roster and gave carries to three during their Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. One of those options will not be available against the Steelers and beyond.
Audric Estime is heading to IR due to an ankle injury, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. This will sideline the rookie until at least Week 6. The Broncos used one of their cutdown-day IR-return spots — on cornerback Damarri Mathis — to leave them seven activations. Estime would stand to count toward one of those slots if he is activated from IR.
Fullback Michael Burton is coming up from Denver’s practice squad to its 53-man roster to fill Estime’s spot, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The veteran had played Week 1 as a P-squad elevation, joining Lil’Jordan Humphrey in that regard. This is Burton’s second Broncos season, and while he is technically a running back, Denver employs the veteran for his blocking.
This leaves Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin as Denver’s primary ball-carriers, with rookie UDFA Blake Watson still on the active roster as well. Watson was a healthy scratch in Week 1. The pass-catching back may well need to make his debut against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Estime already ran into injury trouble during the offseason; he underwent a minor knee procedure that limited his time at OTAs and shelved him for minicamp. While this slowed Estime’s development, the Broncos have plans for the former Fighting Irish standout. With Williams in a contract year and having not yet looked himself since October 2022 ACL and LCL tears — though, the fourth-year back impressed in training camp — Estime profiles as a successor. He is signed through 2027.
Estime fell to Round 5 due in part to a 4.71-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine. He clocked a sub-4.6-second time at Notre Dame’s pro day, which came after he had combined for 30 touchdowns from 2022-23. Estime rambled for 18 rushing TDs last season, totaling 1,341 yards on 10 carries. Estime logged two carries for 14 yards and fumbled, though a Broncos teammate recovered, in the team’s 26-20 loss. The Broncos will aim to have their rookie power runner right come October, though Estime’s timetable is not yet known.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/24
Here are all the NFL’s minor transactions for Saturday, including the gameday callups leading into the first Sunday of the 2024 season:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, CB Kevin King
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: OL Will Clapp, DE Kameron Cline
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DE Byron Cowart, LS Scott Daly
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: WR Kendric Pryor
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: WR Jaelon Darden
- Elevated: CB Mike Ford, T Germain Ifedi
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Michael Burton, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: DE Chris Smith
- Elevated: WR Tom Kennedy, DT Kyle Peko
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Chris Lammons, K Spencer Shrader
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: S Terrell Edmunds
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Sam Webb
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Eric Tomlinson
- Elevated: LB Shaquille Quarterman
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: T AJ Arcuri
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: WR Robbie Chosen
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Myles Gaskin, S Bobby McCain
New England Patriots
- Elevated: DT Trysten Hill, G Michael Jordan
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Khaleke Hudson, DT Kendal Vickers
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Carter Coughlin, LB Ty Summers
- Released: LB Curtis Bolton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: WR Ben Skowronek
- Placed on IR: DT Logan Lee
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S Marquise Blair, CB Artie Burns
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Luke Gifford, DL James Lynch
With regular kicker Matt Gay listed as questionable for the season opener after hernia surgery, the Colts will call up Shrader from the practice squad as an emergency option. The 25-year-old has not made a regular season appearance in his career, but that could very well change tomorrow.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/24
Friday’s minor moves as we continue with Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Devin Carter
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Durell Nchami
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Ellis Merriweather
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived (with injury settlement): DE Anthony Goodlow
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: OL Nick Gates, TE E.J. Jenkins
Washington Commanders
- Released (with injury settlement): T Armani Taylor-Prioleau
The Packers and Eagles both elect to utilize their two gameday practice squad elevations on the offensive side of the ball as they get their seasons started in São Paulo. With rookie third-round rusher MarShawn Lloyd out to start the season, Merriweather will add some depth at running back for Green Bay.
Philadelphia will use their callups to supplement an offensive line that has two players listed as out tonight and one on injured reserve. A normally deep tight ends group for the Birds sees Albert Okwuegbunam on IR, as well. Jenkins will back up Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.