According to NFL Network’s lead league insider Ian Rapoport, Denver Broncos star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered an aggravation of his previous chest injury during Sunday’s victory over the Cardinals. Rapoport adds that Waddle’s availability this week will be based on how practice goes.
9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis also adds that Waddle is expected to be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs, but there is hope that he can play. Klis adds, “It’s the Chiefs after all.”
As we know, Waddle injured his shoulder on a late 4th-quarter reverse call where Waddle bobbled the ball and landed hard on his chest/shoulder when recovering the ball. After the play, Waddle was slow to get up and was in obvious pain. After the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton called the play “dumb” and asked the media why they did not ask him about the play call.
“Why didn’t anybody ask me about the dumb reverse call? That would be one of the first calls. Alright, I’m
going to answer. Everyone ask the question. It was awful. I’m sorry. If you look it up — in 2008, in a
similar situation, even a more radical reverse, (former Saints RB Reggie Bush) fumbled (and) Tampa Bay
beat us. I know better. Every once in a while you fall in love with a play. That would have been a good
question.”
Thankfully. Waddle’s injury seems like a short-term thing, and there is hope that he can play vs. the Chiefs on Sunday. However, we need to pay attention to the injury report this week to determine his status. Klis notes that he will be questionable, but it seems like his availability will come down to pain tolerance. We don’t know the exact chest/shoulder injury he suffered, but he was limited for two practices before practicing fully on Friday. So, we will have to see if Waddle will be limited for today’s practice or not. A DNP to start the week would not be a great sign for his availability on Sunday.
This game vs. the Chiefs will be a big one. First, the Broncos will look to bounce back after their embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Chiefs to open the season. More importantly, if the Broncos were to win this game, they would move to the top of the AFC West. A loss would put them at 5-3, two games behind the Chiefs in the loss column, and they would have the tie-breaker due to the in-season sweep of the Broncos.
So, it’s a bit of a must-win game for the Broncos if they want to win the AFC West.
Hopefully, Waddle can go and play through this injury, but we will have to wait and see. The Broncos have their first practice of the week today and we will see whether or not is able to practice today. Stay tuned to Mile High Report for today’s injury report and any and all updates on Waddle’s status for this Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs.
