Broncos Get ‘Ominous’ Sounding News Before Jets Game in London
Posted October 6, 2025
The Denver Broncos are riding high after their win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5, but their good mood was quickly curtailed with the news about starting left guard Ben Powers.
Denver’s win was the first of two victories by road teams taking down the NFL’s last undefeated teams in Week 5, with the New England Patriots following suit against the Buffalo Bills on “Sunday Night Football.” However, there is significant early concern over Powers’ status.
The news comes as the Broncos prepare to face the New York Jets in London in Week 6.
Ben Powers Not Traveling to London With Broncos
Powers played he entire game. He picked up a false start penalty, but the Broncos’ coaching staff did not bench or otherwise pull Powers against the Eagles. The nebulous nature of the issue has added another layer of intrigue to the matter for head coach Sean Payton and Co.
The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel noted on X that the matter “sounds ominous,” given that Powers is not traveling with the team.
“Powers is returning to Denver to be evaluated for a biceps injury he suffered against Philadelphia on Sunday night, according to an injury report the Broncos were required to release because of their travel to London,” Gabriel wrote in a follow-up article on October 5. “There was no immediate information on the severity of the injury, but returning home instead of traveling with the team clearly puts Powers’ status going forward in doubt.”
“Powers played every snap against Philadelphia, but now is facing a potential absence.”
Powers is in his third season with the Broncos. A fourth-round pick (No. 123 overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Powers is signed through 2026 on a four-year, $52 million contract.
Broncos Have Options at LG If Starter Misses
GettyMatt Peart #79 of the Denver Broncos looks to block against the Arizona Cardinals.
Powers has logged three straight seasons with at least 17 games played, putting his streak in jeopardy as well as his availability for the Broncos against the Jets.
The Broncos are not exactly in dire straits without him.
“During training camp, Alex Palczewski was the first man in on the right side, but Matt Peart served as the primary backup on the left side,” Gabriel wrote. “Either could slide into Powers’ spot, and Denver could also look at Alex Forsyth or practice squad veteran Calvin Throckmorton.”
However, entering Week 5, Pro Football Focus graded Powers as the Broncos’ third-best offensive lineman overall. Those grades are subjective and have been polarizing, given that player assignments are not public knowledge.
Still, PFF ranked Powers second behind left tackle Garett Bolles in run blocking. He was fifth behind Palczewski – but ahead of center Luke Wattenberg – in pass protection.
Broncos’ Top-Flight OL Facing Potential Hit Before Jets Game
The Broncos have boasted one of, if not the, best offensive lines for the past two seasons. However, that is when they are whole. Powers has been durable. But the Broncos played four games from Week 3 through 6 in 2024 without right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
They went 3-1 in those games.
Wattenberg missed Weeks 6 through 9. The Broncos went 2-2 without him. The Broncos lost the game that both players missed in Week 6, which was against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Should the Chiefs Cash in on Trent McDuffie? A Bold Take on Kansas City’s Defense
Our Mark Gunnels takes on the latest hot takes, wacky predictions and unpopular opinions about the Chiefs.
In our “Let’s Argue” series, our Mark Gunnels considers the hot takes, wacky predictions and unpopular opinions of Kansas City Chiefs fans from all over the world.
The Chiefs should trade Trent McDuffie
While this won’t be a popular take in Chiefs Kingdom, it has some merit.
You can make the case for trading the team’s All-Pro cornerback. After all, Kansas City could get a big return — and given general manager Brett Veach’s track record, it’s easy to imagine he can draft another talented defensive back.
We’re already seeing this kind of success with rookie Nohl Williams. As Mr. Brownstone noted, going into Week 4, Williams was PFF’s highest-graded NFL cornerback. The sample size is small, but it’s certainly a good indicator for where he’s headed in his career.
Still, I’d be surprised if Veach doesn’t lock up McDuffie in a long-term contract. Despite his unique ability to draft the position well — and with future Hall of Famer Chris Jones continuing to age — Kansas City needs McDuffie to be the face of the defense for the back half of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ tenure.
At worst, we’re talking about a top-5 player at cornerback — and he’s only 23 years old.
This season, Brashard Smith will be the Chiefs’ starting running back
From one seventh-round rookie to another!
There’s no secret how lackluster the Chiefs’ rushing attack has been. Mahomes still leads the team in rushing yards (130) over Isiah Pacheco (127). While that isn’t likely to last much longer, it’s still a glaring issue.
Pacheco has shown flashes, but he doesn’t look like quite the same player he was before his injury — and he continues to show a lack of vision and patience. Speaking of players not looking the same, Kareem Hunt also fits that description — although given the mileage on his legs, it’s more expected.
Neither veteran has the burst that Smith brings to the field. He could be the solution.
In very limited regular-season action, Smith hasn’t yet shown us much in the running game — but last week against the Baltimore Ravens, he flashed some juice as a receiver, collecting 27 yards on three catches. That was the most action he has seen so far. We’ll probably see him continue to get more snaps.
Maybe Veach will make a trade for a running back before the deadline. In the meantime, the team should give Smith more touches.
What will the Chiefs do with Jaylon Moore?
This one feels simple.
Assuming everyone on the starting offensive line remains healthy, we likely won’t see Moore play very much this season. However, the expectation is that Moore will be the starting right tackle after the Chiefs let Jawaan Taylor walk next year.
When Veach signed Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal, the initial thought was that he would play left tackle this season. That was, however, before Josh Simmons fell into Kansas City’s lap in the draft.
At the end of the day, that’s a good problem to have.
The Chiefs will win Super Bowl LX
I couldn’t agree more.
After the 0-2 start, people were ready to write Kansas City off. Well… that looks silly now.
And when you look at the AFC, which team can beat the Chiefs in January?
Now 1-4, the Ravens might not even make it that far. The Buffalo Bills just fell to the New England Patriots after feasting on the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. The Los Angeles Chargers have come back down to earth.
Are you really scared of Daniel Jones’ Indianapolis Colts or Aaron Rodgers’ Pittsburgh Steelers?