According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos have placed defensive linemen Malcolm Roach on the short-term injured reserve. This will sideline him for at least four weeks, and he will be eligible to come off the list in week 5.
With a spot open on the 53-man roster, the Broncos signed third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger off their practice squad and onto their active roster. He will serve as the Broncos’ emergency quarterback on Sunday.
Roach suffered a Grade 2 calf strain during Thursday’s practice and now will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. Klis notes that the team is hopeful that he can return as soon as week 5, but that remains to be seen at this point and time.
Losing Roach is a blow to the Broncos’ run defense in the short term. He was signed to help improve that unit last season, and he did just that. Now, the Broncos need to rely on their depth moving forward to replace Roach’s role along the defensive line. Both Eyioma Uwazruike and Jordan Jackson had strong summers and earned roster spots, and now, they will be counted on early in the year to replace Roach. We could also see rookie defensive linemen Sai’vion Jones be active now with the open slot available.
As for Ehlinger, he had made a strong impression with the Broncos coaches and had himself a good camp and preseason. He was released by the Broncos during final cuts and despite 53-man roster offers from other teams, Ehlinger decided to sign back to the Broncos’ practice squad. He will likely serve as the Broncos’ “47th man” emergency quarterback, which will allow the team to activate another player on Sunday.
Hopefully, we never have to see Ehlinger take the field for the Broncos, and we see Uwazurike and Jackson step in for Roach and not miss a beat.
