The Broncos should also benefit from a playoff scenario that sees fewer and fewer teams on the cusp of contention. Only eight AFC teams sit at .500 or better through seven games
The Denver Broncos' offense came to life in the final quarter of their dramatic win over the Giants, but their offensive line held its own throughout the game. The Broncos' unit has been a premier group over the past few years, especially in the passing game. Injury to Ben Powers raised some questions, however, and the future of the line until Powers returns remains up in the air.
The Broncos sit in an incredible playoff position at 5-2, but the front office needs to recognize that Denver is far from perfect. A pair of improbable comebacks might cause reason for concern, but their two last-second losses to the Colts and Chargers suggest that the Broncos could be better than their record shows. At 5-2, the Broncos have a fairly accurate understanding of themselves: a strong playoff contender that could use reinforcements.
The Broncos arguably have the best tackle duo in football, with Mike McGlinchey and Garett Bolles, an All-Pro in Quinn Meinerz, but lack the same star power on the opposite side of their interior. Luke Wattenberg has been a solid but unspectacular starter, and recent snap issues have raised concerns. Alex Palczewski was solid in the replacement of Ben Powers, but he limits Denver's depth as a starter, especially with Matt Peart on the IR.
The Broncos must add offensive line reinforcements at the trading deadline
Whether it be a starter or a reserve, the Broncos must add offensive line reinforcements before the trading deadline. The trenches have been elite position groups for the Broncos the past two seasons, and the team is built to dominate inside. With injuries stacking up, the Broncos must ensure that they have the depth to last the rest of the regular season.
The issue the Broncos are facing is not only their depth but also their personnel usage. The Broncos had made a habit of including an extra offensive lineman plenty this year, and Palczewski had been that man until the injury to Ben Powers.
With Powers and Peart on the IR, the Broncos' depth is limited. Whether Palczewski remains the starter or becomes a reserve again, the Broncos need to ensure that their next injury doesn't cripple their offensive line, and eventually their ability to run the football.
The Broncos should also benefit from a playoff scenario that sees fewer and fewer teams on the cusp of contention. Only eight AFC teams sit at .500 or better through seven games, with one being a suddenly free-falling Jaguars team.
Several teams across the league could be in a position to accept extra draft capital prior to the season's end, and could be more than willing to move an offensive lineman. Denver needs to jump on this market and ensure they have the depth needed to make a playoff push.
Chiefs Reward Emerging Rookie After Devastating Injury News
The Kansas City Chiefs revealed a 53-man roster move ahead of Week 8, following the Omarr Norman-Lott injury news on October 20.
“We have placed DT Omarr Norman-Lott on Reserve/Injured. We have signed Practice Squad player CB Kevin Knowles to an active roster contract,” the Chiefs announced on October 21.
We have placed DT Omarr Norman-Lott on Reserve/Injured.
We have signed Practice Squad player CB Kevin Knowles to an active roster contract.
Knowles, 22, is an undrafted rookie who emerged throughout the spring and summer, only to earn three immediate practice squad elevations from Week 2 through Week 4.
Although Knowles is a cornerback and nickel DB by trade, the rookie has done well to impress special teams coordinator Dave Toub. For that reason, 100% of his NFL snaps so far have come on special teams.
Within an organization like Kansas City’s, that show of trust can reveal a great deal. Not only does Knowles provide energy and juice, but he’s also likely a very intelligent, hard-working, and polished youngster if he’s caught the eye of Toub and head coach Andy Reid this early.
Omarr Norman-Lott’s Rookie Season Is Over as Chiefs Make IR News Official
There is no sugarcoating it, losing Norman-Lott to a torn ACL hurts. The Chiefs’ interior defensive line depth was very thin going into draft season earlier this spring.
Then, KC revealed their master plan, spending a second-round selection on the Tennessee product. And Norman-Lott lived up to the hype throughout training camp and the early season.
Despite only registering 1.0 sack and 1 tackle for a loss over his first 5 games, Norman-Lott plugged a hole on the Chiefs’ D-line, and he had been doing his job well for a rookie. The hope was that he’d continue to develop as the season progressed, eventually turning into Chris Jones’ right-hand man on the interior.
Now that development will be halted for the remainder of this season, and potentially, most of next year’s spring and summer program.
In the meantime, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach must also replace Norman-Lott, which he has yet to do.
Chiefs Beat Reporter Calls for ‘Reinforcements’ Ahead of Week 8
Yesterday, on October 20, Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick posted a call to action after hearing the Norman-Lott news.
“[The] Chiefs need reinforcements on the interior,” Derrick proclaimed on X, and he’s not wrong.
As noted above, Veach must add some more defensive tackle help in the coming weeks. The first roster move after Norman-Lott’s injury, Knowles’ promotion, ignores this need. But the Chiefs likely have another transaction or two up their sleeve.
Kansas City only has Jones, Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery left on the active roster at D-tackle, although Mike Danna and Malik Herring can help out inside in certain situations.
They also have DTs Zacch Pickens, Brodric Martin and Marlon Tuipulotu on the practice squad. And you can expect that one or two of them will be elevated for Week 8, assuming no one else is signed to the active roster between now and Monday night.
Of the three, Martin has already been elevated once in 2025 (but did not appear in the game), and Tuipulotu has been elevated twice. That means Tuipulotu can only be elevated one more time before he must join Knowles on the 53-man roster.
