Denver Broncos Final Week 3 Injury Report: Team will be without two key defenders

Travis Wakeman

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Denver Broncos Final Week 3 Injury Report: Team will be without two key defenders image

The Denver Broncos have been fortunate in the injury department thus far in 2024, particularly compared to many other teams around the league. But two players will not be able to suit up in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

When the Broncos released their injury report on Friday, it revealed that a foot injury will keep Baron Browning out of the contest and an ankle injury will keep safety JL Skinner out. 

Nik Bonitto will fill in for Browning and likely get more snaps as an edge rusher. The team also elevated Dondrea Tillman from the practice squad in preparation for the contest. Jonah Elliss and Jonathon Cooper will fill out the depth chart and be the players tasked with putting pressure on Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield. 

 

Skinner has been used on special teams only. The only safeties to see defensive snaps for the Broncos this season are Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke and Devon Key. Keidron Smith is the only other safety on the roster but the team does have Tanner McAlister on the practice squad. 

In other news, defensive end John Franklin-Myers will play and wide receiver Devaughn Vele will return to the lineup after missing last week's game with a rib injury. 

The Broncos will hope that by sitting out this week, Browning and Skinner can log some practices next week ahead of their Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets. 

Buccaneers have several key starters listed as out

Looking at the injury report released by the Bucs for this game, they will have to do without several key players. 

Vita Vea, one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, will miss the game, and also on the defensive line, Calijah Kancey will be unable to go. As a result, Greg Gaines and William Gholston will see more snaps with the starting unit. 

Right tackle Luke Goedeke will miss the game after suffering a concussion. Justin Skule will likely draw the start in his place. Finally, Antoine Winfield Jr., one of the best safeties in the league, will also be out with a foot injury. Christian Izien will likely draw the start in his place. 

 

The Broncos and Buccaneers are scheduled for kickoff at 11:00 am MT and the game will be televised on FOX. Tim Brando and Matt Millen will have the call. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.