Broncos Move Running Back Tyler Badie to Injured Reserve After Back Injury at the Jets
Denver hopes the 25-year-old can return later in the season after he is sidelined for at least four games.
By Luis Fernandez ·
The Denver Broncos placed running back Tyler Badie on injured reserve on Saturday, according to the league's transaction wire.
Badie, 25, hurt his back during last Sunday's game against the New York Jets and did not practice at any point this week. The move means he will miss at least four games. Sources have told The Denver Post over the past week that the team is hopeful he can come back later in the season. His first chance to return would be in Week 9 at Baltimore.
The injury came after a strong stretch for Badie, who gave a boost to a Broncos ground game that had struggled through the first two weeks of the year. He ran for 70 yards in Week 3 at Tampa Bay, and Denver then signed him from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the Week 4 matchup with the Jets.
Against the Jets, Badie was hit and fumbled the ball. He left the field under his own power but later collapsed on the Denver sideline. Medical staff immobilized him on a backboard and took him to the locker room on a cart. He was evaluated at a hospital, released later that day, and flew back to Denver a few hours after the rest of the team.
On the season, Badie has 11 carries for 86 yards.
With Badie out, Denver will lean mainly on Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin when it faces Las Vegas on Sunday. If the Broncos stick to their usual practice of dressing three running backs for each game, rookie Blake Watson will likely be active on game day for the first time. Denver also signed Salvon Ahmed to the practice squad earlier this week but did not elevate him for the game.
The roster move opens a spot on Denver's 53-man roster, which the team did not immediately fill. The Broncos could sign or promote a player early next week, or they could keep the space open in case rookie running back Audric Estime is ready to return from injured reserve.
Denver did make one practice squad elevation for Sunday's contest, bringing up rookie inside linebacker Levelle Bailey. It is the second consecutive week that Bailey has been elevated for game day.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: The Denver Post
