Broncos place starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve with shoulder injury ...Middle East

Looking for good health in their holiday stocking, these Broncos have instead received a resounding heap of coal.

On Thursday, the organization placed starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve, a major blow to the offensive front as Denver marches into the playoffs. Wattenberg has started all 15 games for the Broncos as the man in the middle this season, but landed on this week’s injury report with a sudden shoulder injury and wasn’t present at Tuesday’s walkthrough.

The IR placement means Wattenberg will miss a minimum of four games, making him ineligible to return until at least the AFC conference championship game — if the Broncos advance that far — on Jan. 25.

Wattenberg signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Broncos in late November for his efforts snapping quarterback Bo Nix the ball for the last two seasons in Denver. He’s allowed just 13 pressures in 1,006 pass-blocking snaps this year (according to Pro Football Focus), and improved as a run-blocker after an offseason emphasis with assistant offensive-line coach Chris Morgan.

“Good, young player, and it’s important to keep those guys in your building,” head coach Sean Payton told reporters after Wattenberg’s extension. “I’ve been in the position where you are trying to draft a center and it’s one of those unique positions. If you say in the draft, ‘We’re going to draft a center that we feel like can start Year 1,’ that becomes difficult.”

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In Wattenberg’s stead the Broncos will turn to backup center Alex Forsyth, a seventh-round pick by Denver in 2023. Forsyth started four games last season when Wattenberg landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The Oregon product had some demons to exercise at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, after the Chiefs targeted him on a game-winning field goal block in Kansas City’s 16-14 win over the Broncos in November 2024.

With a roster spot open and help needed at center, Denver also promoted veteran Calvin Throckmorton from their practice squad to the 53-man on Thursday.

Additional reinforcements

With tight end Nate Adkins’ knee banged up again, the Broncos signed 41-year-old veteran Marcedes Lewis back to their active roster on Christmas Day. Lewis was originally picked up in late October for some blocking help when Adkins originally went down, and has lingered on Denver’s practice squad even after running out of elevations.

He’ll be relied on for plenty more than veteran savvy Thursday — and potentially beyond — with Adkins sidelined. Lewis played 25% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps in four previous games activated, and has become a key figure to the Broncos’ late-season push.

Denver waived running back Cody Schrader in a corresponding move, after claiming him off waivers from the Houston Texans a week ago. The Broncos also elevated veteran Michael Bandy from the practice squad for the third time this season, with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant sidelined with a concussion against Kansas City.

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