Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos and numerous fantasy football owners across the country can commence panicking as a herniated disk will force Joe Flacco to miss the team's Week 9 matchup with the Cleveland Browns.  

The Broncos announced Brandon Allen will start in place of Flacco. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Denver may need to lean on Allen beyond Week 9:  

Flacco's injury could be a big problem for Broncos wide receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton.

With Emmanuel Sanders recovering from a torn Achilles, Sutton arguably entered the season as Denver's No. 1 option through the air. The second-year wideout has 39 receptions for 636 yards and three touchdowns in eight games in 2019.

When Flacco is healthy, Sutton's ceiling doesn't reach too high. He's a lower-end WR1 or WR2 in 12-team standard leagues and isn't consistent enough to go beyond that.

With Allen taking over at quarterback, Sutton's production could take a hit. Sending him to the bench might be a good idea if you have another proven receiver or running back to slot into the starting lineup.

Hamilton was a fantasy afterthought prior to Sanders' departure, catching 11 passes for 106 yards. He provided little return in 2018 as well, when he finished with 30 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

By trading Sanders, the Broncos moved the 2018 fourth-round draft pick up the depth chart. Hamilton has responded by getting just one target in Sunday's 15-13 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts.

Until he shows otherwise or the Broncos generally upgrade at quarterback from Flacco, the former Penn State star should stay on the waiver wire.

Outside of Sutton and Hamilton, Denver's receiving corps offers little in the way of value. Diontae Spencer and Fred Brown have been on the periphery of the passing game, and rookie tight end Noah Fant isn't getting enough targets to provide any confidence about his week-to-week production.

Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco suffered a neck injury in Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts and reportedly could miss "significant time."  

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio told reporters Flacco would not play on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns after being diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported it's "likely" backup Brandon Allen gets multiple starts in the wake of the injury.

Adam Schefter of ESPN added that injured reserve is a possibility for Flacco when he's reevaluated after the Broncos' Week 10 bye.

Flacco threw for 174 yards on 20-of-32 passing with no touchdowns or interceptions on Sunday as the Colts rallied to win 15-13.

Since being drafted in the first round in 2008, the Delaware product has turned into one of the most durable quarterbacks in the NFL. The 34-year-old did not miss a game until his eighth season in the league, when a torn ACL limited him to just 10 games in 2015.

The Super Bowl XLVII MVP would not miss another game until last year when a hip injury snapped a string of 41 consecutive starts.

That ailment would ultimately lead to the end of his Ravens career.

Flacco completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,465 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine appearances for Baltimore last season but went just 4-5 as starter.

With Flacco sidelined, rookie Lamar Jackson stepped in and turned the team's season around, going 6-1 down the stretch en route to winning the AFC North. Flacco became expendable, and the Broncos opted to take a flier on the 34-year-old.

In his first year in Denver, Flacco has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,822 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He has guided the team to a 2-6 record.

While the Broncos committed to Flacco being the starter in 2019, it also used a second-round pick on former Missouri star Drew Lock, who remains on injured reserve with a thumb injury he suffered in the preseason.

After announcing Flacco's injury, Fangio said he hadn't decided on a the backup quarterback for Sunday's matchup with the Browns. Denver could activate Lock or promote Brett Rypien from the practice squad, per Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk.

After the Denver Broncos fell to 2-6 with a heartbreaking loss to the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, quarterback Joe Flacco questioned the conservative play-calling down the stretch:

Denver led most of the day but ended up falling 15-13 after an Adam Vinatieri field goal secured the win for Indianapolis.

Though there were several missed opportunities for the Broncos, Flacco was especially disappointed with the 3-and-5 call with two minutes remaining in the game.

Denver led 13-12 but had the ball on the opposing 43-yard line with the chance to seal a win. Instead of giving the veteran quarterback a chance to get the first down, the team called a run for Phillip Lindsay, who gained no yards on the play.

The Broncos punted on the next play, giving the Colts a chance to score the eventual game-winning field goal on the next drive.

Flacco had one more chance at a comeback but was sacked and fumbled on the final play of the game.

There is no denying Denver lacked aggressiveness down the stretch, punting on five straight drives in the second half. However, the quarterback also deserved plenty of blame with his third game in a row without a passing touchdown.

Considering Denver has only scored more than 20 points in one of eight games this year, the team might look to make a change at quarterback.

Emmanuel Sanders could be one of the biggest names on the trade block before the Oct. 29 deadline.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Denver Broncos are "likely to be open to listening to offers" for the veteran receiver and "would welcome a second-day draft pick for him."

The Broncos are reportedly seeking higher compensation than the fourth-round pick they got for Demaryius Thomas last year.

Sanders has been a bit inconsistent in 2019 but has still showcased his ability with 30 catches for 367 yards and two scores in seven games. He had five catches for 60 yards in Thursday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, showing he was over the recent knee injury that limited him the previous couple of weeks.

The 32-year-old also doesn't seem to have any lingering effects of his Achilles injury that prematurely ended his 2018 campaign.

With two career Pro Bowl selections and three 1,000-yard seasons, Sanders has proved he can be a valuable asset in the passing game for any contender.

Meanwhile, the Broncos can clear part of a contract that has a $12.9 million cap hit in 2019, per Spotrac. Sanders is set to enter free agency in the offseason, which could allow the team to recoup some assets before he leaves for free.

Additionally, any deal could allow Denver to move forward with its younger options at receiver, including Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton. 

The 2-5 Denver Broncos allowed nine sacks to the Kansas City Chiefs en route to a 30-6 home loss on Thursday. After the game, Denver quarterback Joe Flacco provided comments on his team's play.

"We are just not playing good football," Flacco told Cecil Lammey of 104.3 The Fan and other reporters.

"We are all one. We all made our fair share of mistakes," he added.

Denver scored a touchdown on its opening drive before gaining just 130 yards from scrimmage from that point forward. The rushing attack gained just 3.4 yards per carry, and Flacco went 21-of-34 for 213 yards and no scores or interceptions.

The Broncos also played the second half without facing Chiefs quarterback and 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a right knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.

Denver has struggled under first-year head coach Vic Fangio, losing its first four games. In fairness, the Broncos could have been 2-2 after that stretch but lost on game-ending field goals twice.

The Broncos did persevere and win their Week 5 and 6 matchups by a combined 36-13 score over the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans, but the team's home performance Thursday was undoubtedly disappointing considering its recent win streak.

After the game, Fangio made the following comments.

"I still believe in these guys," Fangio said. "We will take a break then focus on the second half of the season."

Denver's regular-season road doesn't get any easier. Three of the team's next four games are against teams with winning records, and none of Denver's final four opponents have losing marks.

The Broncos' next matchup is at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. ET.

It's next man up for the Denver Broncos receiving corps after Emmanuel Sanders suffered a knee injury against the Tennessee Titans, according to 9News' Mike Klis.

Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton in particular could see an uptick in targets, which would change the fantasy equation for both players.

Of course, Joe Flacco is still the starting quarterback, thus possibly limiting how much Sutton's and Hamilton's production improves with Sanders out of the picture. At the time of his trade to Denver, many questioned whether Flacco was an upgrade over Case Keenum in the first place.

Sutton was a perfect test case to determine whether the Flacco trade improved the passing game.

A second-round pick in the 2018 draft, he caught 42 passes for 704 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. While those numbers didn't jump off the page, the potential was obvious as long as the Broncos brought in a better quarterback.

Through five games this year, Sutton has 26 receptions, 401 receiving yards and three scores.

Likewise, Hamilton, a fellow 2018 draftee, would be a barometer for the offense's progress. The former Penn State star has seven receptions for 77 yards and zero touchdowns in 2019.

Before Sanders' injury, Sutton was a solid WR2 worth starting in the right matchup or if an opportunity for a significant uptick in his production presented itself. With Sanders out, Sutton should get enough looks to further solidify his spot in the starting lineup for owners in standard leagues.

Even for desperate owners hoping to find value on the waiver wire, Hamilton still isn't worth adding. Give it a week or two to see whether Sanders' absence makes Hamilton a viable fantasy threat.

Looking further down the depth chart, Noah Fant, Jeff Heuerman or Diontae Spencer is not worth considering in standard leagues. They're unlikely to see enough targets—even with Sanders unavailable—to move the needle too much.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders left Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans with a knee injury and missed the entire second half.

After the 16-0 win, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported "there is optimism" that Sanders plays on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Leading up to Week 6, Sanders was listed on the Broncos' injury report with a knee injury that limited him in practice on Wednesday and Friday. He had one catch for zero yards on three targets against the Titans prior to leaving the game.

It's unclear if Sanders did additional damage to his knee during the game or if he's sitting out as a precautionary measure. The two-time Pro Bowler tore his Achilles in December, but he's started all six games to begin 2019.

Through the first five games this season, Sanders ranked second on the Broncos with 35 targets, 24 receptions, 307 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

With Sanders sidelined, Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton will be the top two wideouts for Denver's offense.

Despite a 1-4 start this season, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway isn't looking to trade talent from his roster to build for the future. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Elway addressed the team's stance during a stadium event honoring the top 100 players in Broncos history. 

"We're trying to win football games so no one from our side is on the trading block," he said. "We're going to continue to try to win football games."

Elway's comments come in the wake of speculation about Von Miller. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said on Sept. 29 he would at least consider calling the Broncos to see what the asking price is for the seven-time Pro Bowler, but he's doubtful they would make a move. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Broncos weren't considering a fire sale prior to their Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but if they do decide to make moves, anyone except Miller could be available. 

The Broncos earned their first win of the season against the Chargers, but their 1-4 record has them sitting in the AFC West cellar.

Points have been particularly hard to come by in Denver. The offense ranks 26th in the NFL with 18 points per game. Joe Flacco has thrown more than one touchdown pass just once in five games, and he's had one interception in each of the past four contests.      

Denver has a number of veterans in the final season of their contracts who could be attractive trade chips. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, defensive end Derek Wolfe and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are eligible for free agency after this season.

The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 29, so Elway still has three games to evaluate his team before making a final decision about the roster. 

Although the Denver Broncos' season hasn't gone as well as expected, star linebacker Von Miller denied there was any rift between him and head coach Vic Fangio. 

"That is crazy. Who came up with that?" Miller said Thursday, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "I would like to think me and Coach Fangio get along great. I feel like the type of energy that he sends toward me is different than everybody else. ... We have just that connection. We're teammates at the end of the day."

The Broncos are 1-4 in 2019 but are coming off their first win of the season Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

While a slow start to the season could cause frustrations in any locker room, Fangio has also called out the eight-time All-Pro in the media.

"I think he's got more to give," the first-year head coach said in July, per Aric DiLalla of the team's official site. "I think we can make him be a better player."

It didn't get too much better during the regular season, with Fangio taking aim at the franchise's all-time sacks leader (100) on Thursday. Miller had two combined tackles and no sacks in Sunday's 20-13 over the Chargers.

"I thought his rush was OK. He was close a few times. I think he's capable of better, but he was coming free some and did help the pass defense in that way," he said, per James Merilatt of 104.3 The Fan. "(Miller's) run defense was up and down a little bit. A lot of stuff was away from him. It was kind of uneventful."

Despite the lack of praise, Miller hasn't seemed to take it personally.

"(His commentary) is all out of love," the 30-year-old said Thursday. "It might come off to the media a little bit differently than what it really is, but I know here inside Dove Valley, there's no other coach I'd rather have right now to be pushing myself to be the best outside linebacker I could possibly be."

Miller has 18 tackles and a team-high two sacks in five games this season as he aims to make his eighth Pro Bowl selection in 10 years.

Denver Broncos cornerback De'Vante Bausby provided some detail on the injury that knocked him out of Sunday's 20-13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bausby was placed on a backboard in the second quarter after an inadvertent helmet-to-helmet hit with teammate Alexander Johnson. The third-year defender told reporters Tuesday he was paralyzed for 30 minutes immediately after the hit.

According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Bausby rejoined the team after undergoing multiple tests at a local hospital. Head coach Vic Fangio told reporters Monday he'll be out indefinitely with a cervical sprain.

"[Bausby] is doing good," Fangio said. "No timetable on his return yet. He'll definitely miss some time. [I] don't know if it will be the entire rest of the season or not. [With] these [injuries], the first few days and week will kind of tell the story."

Bausby is in his first year with the Broncos after having played for the Chicago Bears in 2016 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He signed with Denver in April after the Alliance of American Football abruptly ceased operations.

In five appearances with the Broncos, Bausby has 13 combined tackles and three passes defended.