Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players

As the Denver Broncos push toward the playoffs with a 10-2 record, maintaining the health of their key players has become a top priority for head coach Sean Payton and his staff. While the team has avoided major season-ending injuries to star players so far, a handful of nagging issues and recent knocks have landed several core contributors on the weekly injury report—raising questions about their availability for upcoming high-stakes matchups, including the crucial Week 14 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs. Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players breaks down the latest updates on these players, their expected recovery timelines, and how the Broncos’ depth will be tested if they’re forced to sit out.

Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players begins with running back Javonte Williams— the heart of the Broncos’ rushing attack— who was listed as questionable for Week 13 with a left ankle sprain. Williams suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Broncos’ 24-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, when he was tackled while attempting a cutback run. Initial X-rays were negative, and an MRI later confirmed a mild sprain with no damage to ligaments. The Broncos’ medical staff has listed him as day-to-day, with limited participation in Wednesday and Thursday practices. “Javonte is a tough kid—he wanted to go back in the game against the Cardinals, but we made the call to hold him out to avoid making it worse,” Payton said in a press conference. “We’re taking it slow with him; there’s no need to rush him back when we have capable backups.” Williams, who has rushed for 750 yards and five touchdowns this season, has been a critical part of the Broncos’ offense, especially in short-yardage situations. If he can’t play in Week 13 against the New England Patriots, the Broncos will turn to backup running backs Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin, who have combined for 420 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season.

A second key player on the injury report is cornerback Patrick Surtain II— the Broncos’ shutdown corner— who is dealing with a right shoulder contusion but is expected to play in Week 13. Surtain sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals game while breaking up a pass to wide receiver Marquise Brown. He underwent treatment after the game and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, a sign that the injury is not serious. “Patrick’s shoulder is sore, but he’s a warrior—he’s not going to miss a game unless he absolutely has to,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. Surtain, who has four interceptions and 12 pass deflections this season, is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and his presence is crucial against the Patriots’ passing attack, which features wide receiver DeVante Parker. The Broncos’ secondary would take a major hit if Surtain were forced to sit out; backup cornerbacks Damarri Mathis and Art Green have shown promise but lack Surtain’s experience and ability to shut down top receivers. The Broncos’ medical staff will continue to monitor Surtain’s shoulder throughout the week, but all signs point to him being in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players also includes offensive tackle Garett Bolles— a staple of the Broncos’ offensive line— who was placed on the injury report with a right knee strain, casting doubt on his availability for Week 13 for the Denver Broncos. Bolles injured his knee during a practice last week, and while he played through the pain in the Cardinals game, he reported increased soreness on Monday. The Broncos’ medical staff ordered an MRI, which revealed a mild strain in his patellar tendon. Bolles has been limited in practice this week, and Payton has acknowledged that there’s a chance he could sit out against the Patriots to rest the knee. “Garett has been playing through pain for a few weeks now, and we need to be smart with him,” Payton said. “The offensive line is important, but we don’t want to turn a mild strain into a season-ending injury.” If Bolles can’t play, the Broncos will start backup tackle Cam Fleming, who has played in 10 games this season as a reserve. Fleming has experience at both left and right tackle, but he’s not as consistent as Bolles, who has allowed just two sacks all season. For the Denver Broncos, keeping quarterback Russell Wilson protected is critical, and losing Bolles—even for one game—could make that more difficult.

Another player to watch on the injury report is linebacker Alex Singleton— the Broncos’ leading tackler— who is recovering from a left hamstring tweak but is expected to start in Week 13 for the Denver Broncos. Singleton hurt his hamstring during a special teams drill in practice last week, but he didn’t miss any snaps in the Cardinals game. He was listed as limited in Tuesday’s practice but returned to full participation on Wednesday, a positive sign for the Broncos. “Alex plays with so much intensity—he never wants to come off the field, even when he’s hurt,” Joseph said. “We talked to him about taking it easy in practice, but he’s not the type to back down.” Singleton, who has 112 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception this season, is the heart of the Broncos’ linebacking corps, and his ability to stop the run and cover tight ends is crucial. If he were to miss time, the Broncos would turn to backup linebacker Justin Strnad, who has 28 tackles this season but lacks Singleton’s range and tackling ability. For the Denver Broncos, Singleton’s health is vital, especially against the Patriots, who rely heavily on their running game led by Rhamondre Stevenson.

Finally, Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players wraps up with the Broncos’ overall injury strategy— a proactive approach that prioritizes long-term health over short-term wins for the Denver Broncos. Payton and the Broncos’ medical staff have been careful not to rush injured players back onto the field, even if it means using backups for a game or two. This strategy has paid off so far this season; the Broncos have one of the lowest rates of season-ending injuries in the NFL, and most of their key players have stayed healthy. “Our goal is to have our best players on the field in January, not just in November,” Payton said. “We’re not going to risk a player’s career for a regular-season win— that’s not how we do things here.” The Broncos also have a deep roster, which has allowed them to weather minor injuries without a drop-off in performance. For example, when wide receiver Tim Patrick missed two games with a rib injury earlier this season, backup wide receiver Courtland Sutton stepped up and had 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in those games. For the Denver Broncos, this combination of proactive injury management and roster depth will be crucial as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season and head into the playoffs. Injury Report Details for the Denver Broncos' Key Players ultimately shows that while injuries are inevitable in the NFL, the Broncos are well-prepared to handle them— ensuring that their playoff push stays on track.