Broncos Suffer Crushing Injury Blow to Key Offensive Lineman
The Denver Broncos are in the midst of a heated quarterback competition at training camp, with Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson, and rookie Bo Nix all vying for the starting role. However, the team was dealt a significant setback on Wednesday when key offensive lineman Quinn Bailey suffered a severe injury during practice.
Bailey went down during the individual portion of practice, and the scene was immediately concerning. NFL insider James Palmer reported, “Broncos T Quinn Bailey went down during individual period. Medical staff immediately put an air cast on his right leg and after being down for some time, he was carted straight to an ambulance that was already on site.”
The seriousness of Bailey’s injury was further underscored by Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, who described the moment as players looked away due to the gruesome nature of the injury. “OL Quinn Bailey went down in 9-on-7 with a gruesome lower right leg injury. In serious pain and being attended to. Practice has stopped. Hate to see it,” Gabriel noted.
Bailey has been a pivotal part of the Broncos’ offensive line during his five-year NFL career, providing versatility and stability up front. In the 2023 season, he played in all 17 games, making one start, and has appeared in a total of 31 games since joining the league. Undrafted out of Arizona State, Bailey has spent his entire career with the Broncos, gradually moving from the practice squad to a reliable member of the active roster.
His role was expected to expand even further in 2024, with the Broncos planning to utilize him as a crucial rotational and depth piece on the offensive line. The team had high hopes for their offensive line unit, especially after signing Quinn Meinerz to an $80 million, four-year deal. Protecting the starting quarterback, particularly with rookie Bo Nix emerging as the likely winner of the QB1 battle, was a top priority.
Unfortunately, those plans have been disrupted. Later on Wednesday, head coach Sean Payton confirmed the severity of Bailey’s injury. “Sean Payton said Quinn Bailey suffered a fractured ankle. ‘That was apparent.’ He will have surgery. ‘It was difficult for those guys to see,’” reported Mike Klis.
Bailey now faces a lengthy road to recovery, a blow not only to him personally but to the Broncos’ offensive line cohesion and depth. The team will need to adjust quickly to fill the gap left by Bailey’s absence as they continue their preparations for the 2024 season.
The Broncos’ immediate concern will be ensuring the health and protection of whoever emerges as their starting quarterback. The injury to Bailey highlights the importance of depth and resilience in an NFL season already full of challenges.
