Denver Broncos right tackle Billy Turner is “week-to-week” with a knee injury, coach Nathaniel Hackett announced Friday.
Turner was expected to become the Broncos’ starting right tackle when they signed him this offseason, but his recovery from a lingering knee injury sidelined him for the first five weeks of the season.
When Turner was sidelined earlier this year, the Broncos started Cam Fleming in his place. Turner won the starting job once he was cleared to play, then Fleming was moved over to left tackle when Garett Bolles went down with a season-ending broken leg.
Fleming is currently sidelined with a quad injury so Calvin Anderson started in his place against the Tennessee Titans. When Turner left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, practice squad call-up Quinn Bailey was thrust into right tackle duties, giving the team third-choice options at both tackle spots.
Denver is also down to its third-choice option at center after losing Lloyd Cushenberry (groin) and Graham Glasgow (shoulder) to injuries. Right now, the only regular starters remaining on the offensive line are Dalton Risner and Quinn Meinerz, the team’s two guards.
It remains to be seen how the Broncos will replace Turner at right tackle. If Fleming returns from his injury, he could start at one of the tackle spots with Anderson across from him. If Fleming is going to miss more time, Bailey would be in line to start this week.
Denver also still has Tom Compton, who has been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list all season with a back injury. Compton was designated to return two and a half weeks ago. If he is not elevated to the 53-man roster within three weeks (by Wednesday), he will have to spend the rest of the season on reserve.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos activate Compton this week even if he isn’t quite ready to play. The team is running out of options on the offensive line and they can’t afford to miss Compton’s window for a potential return this season.
Once healthy, Compton will be a candidate to start at right tackle.
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