Broncos get bad news on ascending WR amid unfortunate IR decision image
The Denver Broncos are 2-2 on the season and are looking to beat the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers to stay within striking distance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
But Denver is dealing with some real injury issues lately. Riley Moss and Patrick Surtain II are both injured, and both will miss Week 5 against the Chargers. But that's not the only injury issue hurting this Broncos team.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Broncos got some bad news on ascending young wide receiver Pat Bryant. Unfortunately, Bryant is not only going to miss Week 5, but he's going to miss a lot more than that as he's going on injured reserve.
Broncos place Pat Bryant on IR before Week 5
"The Broncos are placing emerging WR Pat Bryant on short-term IR with the ankle injury suffered vs. the 49ers on Sunday, per source," Rapoport reports. "Bryant will miss the next four games and can return as soon as the team's No. 8 game vs. the Panthers."
This is some tough news for the Broncos, as there was initially some hope that Bryant could avoid going onto IR, just as Surtain did.
But now, it's confirmed that Bryant is going to miss at minimum four weeks. Rapoport noting it's a short-term IR placement does indicate Bryant shouldn't miss more than four weeks, but until he's back, the Broncos are going to be down a key receiver.
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Bryant will miss Weeks 5, 6, 7, and 8 before being eligible to return from IR. With a Week 10 bye, the Broncos could look to sit Bryant out Week 9 and give him six weeks off while only missing five games.
Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, along with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims, will see more work for the Broncos offense going forward.
Bo Nix lost a key target, but with Sean Payton taking over play calling after just four weeks, this offense might start to get things going.
But for the offense to click over the next few weeks, they'll have to manage without Bryant, an ascending young WR who could've been in store for a breakout season before this injury forced him to miss nearly a month.
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