Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James reaggravated a knee injury during a 15-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and was replaced in the lineup by backup tackle/guard Elijah Wilkinson.
Denver signed James (6-6, 312 pounds) to a four-year, $51 million contract in March, a free agent move that hasn’t paid off so far. James went down with an injury in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders and missed the team’s last six games before returning to the lineup on Sunday. He then reinjured the same knee against the Colts.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio does not believe the tackle’s most recent injury will have a recovery timeline as long as the last one.
“He reaggravated the injury. Don’t know what his status will be yet for this week, but don’t think it will be as serious as the first one was,” Fangio said Monday.
Wilkinson will likely continue to start at right tackle with Garett Bolles starting at left tackle. Had James managed to stay healthy, there was a chance that Wilkinson could have gotten a shot at left tackle.
The Broncos’ backup offensive tackles are Calvin Anderson and Jake Rodgers. Austin Schlottmann is probably best-suited to play guard/center but he can also play tackle if needed.
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