Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos

The 2025 NFL season has tested the Denver Broncos’ depth and adaptability, as a wave of surgery-related injuries has sidelined key players for extended periods. From a starting tight end to a rotational defensive tackle, these absences—each requiring 8–12 weeks of recovery—forced the Broncos to shuffle their roster, adjust their schemes, and rely on unproven talent earlier than expected. What could have derailed a playoff-contending season instead became a showcase of the team’s resilience: general manager George Paton’s focus on building depth in the offseason, Sean Payton’s ability to tweak his offense on the fly, and the coaching staff’s knack for developing role players into reliable contributors. Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus explores how the team turned these challenging absences into opportunities to strengthen their roster and solidify their identity as a gritty, adaptable contender.

The first major surgery-induced absence hit the Broncos’ offense in Week 6, when tight end Lucas Krull underwent surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee—an injury expected to keep him out for 10 weeks. Krull had emerged as a critical dual-threat weapon, recording 12 catches for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first five games while serving as a key blocker in Payton’s run-heavy scheme. His versatility—able to line up in-line, split out wide, or act as a fullback—made him irreplaceable in two-tight end sets, which the Broncos used 40% of the time in the early season. The injury occurred during a routine practice drill, when Krull planted awkwardly while running a slant route, and an MRI later confirmed the need for surgery. “Losing Lucas was a huge blow,” Payton admitted after the diagnosis. “He was hitting his stride, and we’d built a lot of our red-zone and short-yardage packages around him. But injuries are part of the game, and we have to adjust.” Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus frames Krull’s absence as the first major test of the team’s depth and adaptability.

Just two weeks after Krull’s surgery, the Broncos’ defense faced a similar setback when defensive tackle D.J. Jones went under the knife for a minor calf strain repair—an injury that had lingered since Week 4 and required surgery to prevent further damage. Jones, a run-stopping specialist who had started all six games, was a anchor in the Broncos’ top-5 run defense, recording 2 sacks and 15 tackles while clogging gaps to free up linebackers. His absence left a void in the interior line, as backup Elijah Garcia—a fifth-round rookie—had played just 12 defensive snaps all season. The surgery sidelined Jones for 8 weeks, overlapping with Krull’s recovery and forcing the Broncos to address two critical positions at once. “D.J. is the kind of player who doesn’t get enough credit—he makes everyone around him better,” said defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. “He clogs up the middle, which lets our edge rushers get to the quarterback and our linebackers make tackles. Replacing him won’t be easy, but we have to find a way.” Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus highlights the compounding challenge of back-to-back surgery-related absences.

The Denver Broncos responded to Krull’s absence by promoting practice squad tight end Chris Manhertz to the active roster and signing undrafted rookie Jake Bobo to fill Manhertz’s spot on the practice squad. Manhertz, a 7-year veteran, lacked Krull’s pass-catching upside but excelled as a blocker—critical for preserving the Broncos’ top-10 run game. To compensate for the lost receiving production, Payton adjusted the offense: he reduced two-tight end sets by 15% and increased three-wide receiver formations, shifting more targets to Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos also leaned on fullback Michael Burton, using him as a short-yardage pass catcher in red-zone situations—Burton recorded 3 touchdowns in Krull’s first four games out. “Chris is a pro—he knows how to block, and he’s reliable,” said tight ends coach Declan Doyle. “We’re not asking him to be Lucas, but we are asking him to do his job well, and he’s delivered.” The Denver Broncos’ ability to prioritize their run game while finding creative ways to replace Krull’s receiving contributions kept the offense on track, even without their most versatile tight end. Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus underscores how scheme tweaks and role player development mitigated the offensive loss.

The Denver Broncos addressed Jones’ injury with a mix of internal promotion and external reinforcement, showing their commitment to maintaining a strong run defense. The team first promoted defensive tackle Marquiss Spencer from the practice squad to the active roster—Spencer, a 2022 seventh-round pick, had spent two seasons developing his technique and was ready for increased snaps. Then, in a midseason trade, the Broncos acquired Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans, a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackle who could step in as a starter and provide both run-stopping and pass-rushing ability. Simmons, who had 3 sacks and 10 tackles for loss with the Titans, immediately made an impact: in his first game as a Bronco, he recorded 6 tackles and a sack, helping hold the Las Vegas Raiders to 78 rushing yards. “Jeffery was a perfect fit for us,” Paton said of the trade. “He’s a proven player who can step in and contribute right away, which is exactly what we needed with D.J. out. It’s a testament to our scouting department that we identified him as a target early.” The Denver Broncos’ willingness to part with a late-round draft pick for Simmons paid off, as he not only filled Jones’ role but elevated the entire defensive line. Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus shows how strategic midseason moves can turn injury setbacks into defensive upgrades.

By the time Krull and Jones returned in Week 15, the Denver Broncos had not only survived their extended absences but emerged as a stronger, more versatile team. Krull’s recovery went smoother than expected, and he returned to play 30% of the offensive snaps in his first game back, catching 2 passes for 25 yards. Jones, meanwhile, eased back into the rotation, playing 25 snaps and recording a tackle in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. The biggest takeaway from their extended absence, however, was the growth of the players who filled in: Manhertz became a reliable blocking tight end, Garcia developed into a solid rotational tackle, and Spencer proved he could contribute in spot duty. “Injuries are never ideal, but they do give young players a chance to grow,” Payton said at the end of the regular season. “Chris, Elijah, and Marquiss all stepped up when we needed them, and that makes our team deeper and more resilient going into the playoffs.” The Broncos finished the regular season 11–6, winning the AFC West, and their ability to overcome surgery-induced absences was a key factor in their success. Surgery Out Extended Time for the Denver Broncos thus concludes by emphasizing that while extended injuries test a team’s limits, they also reveal its strength—turning potential weaknesses into long-term assets.