Broncos’ Ben Powers Faces Extended Absence Due to Injury

Denver Broncos left guard Ben Powers will be sidelined for a significant period due to a biceps injury, as announced by head coach Sean Payton on Wednesday. Powers reportedly suffered a torn biceps during the final offensive series in the Broncos’ 21-17 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The injury occurred when Powers’ arm was bent awkwardly while engaged in pass protection on a play involving quarterback Bo Nix and tight end Adam Trautman. Despite the injury, he managed to finish the game. However, Powers did not travel with the team to England and has since undergone surgery to address the issue. Payton’s remarks on Wednesday marked the first public acknowledgment of Powers’ condition.

Powers is expected to be out for at least two months, and similar injuries have previously resulted in players missing entire seasons. “With a starting player, there’s always a — it’s never any good, but the next guy’s up and we’ll get ready to play him,” Payton stated following practice at the Tottenham Hotspur complex.

While Payton did not clarify who would step into Powers’ position, Matt Peart has been training at left guard during the preseason. Peart, who signed a two-year deal in March 2023 to remain with the Broncos, served as a backup last season and has been identified by Payton as a crucial depth player.

“We know exactly what we’re getting [in Peart], we’ll see how we handle it,” Payton noted. The Broncos have relied on the same five offensive linemen throughout the first five games of the season, currently ranking second in the league for pass block win rate at 74% and 18th in run block win rate at 70.9%.

As the Broncos prepare for their upcoming game against the New York Jets, the coaching staff will need to make adjustments to the offensive line. The absence of Powers will challenge the team’s depth and strategy moving forward, but the focus remains on maintaining performance and continuity as they navigate the season.