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After losing Mike McGlinchey to an MCL injury for at least the next four games, the Denver Broncos are turning to Alex Palczewski as the next man up at right tackle.
“‘Palcho’ will take those snaps,” Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed after Wednesday’s practice.
Palczewski (6-6, 314 pounds) signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois last year. After suffering a hand injury last summer, Palczewski spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve. He was activated for the team’s season finale but did not play in the game.
“It’s part of our league,” Payton said of losing McGlinchey. “Certainly Mike is a veteran. ‘Palcho’ is one of those guys that he’s been competing. We’ll be smart relative to what we’re doing protection wise, but he’s played in a lot of football games. I know he’ll be excited about his first start.”
Palczewski spent six years at Illinois, playing in 64 games. He won the backup right tackle job this summer and he made his NFL debut last week, playing the final two snaps of the game after McGlinchey went down with a knee injury.
“Yeah, that’s going to affect us, but it’s next man up and we feel really strong about ‘Palcho’ and we’re moving forward,” quarterback Bo Nix said Wednesday when asked about losing McGlinchey.
As Broncos OL Alex Palczewski prepares to make his first NFL start at right tackle in place of the injured Mike McGlinchey, he shares what he’s learned from a year-plus as McGlinchey’s teammate: “Mike McGlinchey has helped me tenfold since I’ve gotten here to improve,” Palczewski… pic.twitter.com/cyeKyFyRYM
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 18, 2024
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Palczewski is poised to make his first NFL start when Denver goes on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
“Obviously, it’s a new guy and we have to make sure he’s hearing the calls and make sure that you bring him up to speed as best as you can and help him out and not leave him out to dry,” Nix said. “I think, especially ‘Palcho’ with his experience, he’ll do a really good job of keeping that o-line going and continue that trajectory of it going.”
Matt Peart and Frank Crum will serve as the team’s backup tackles behind Garett Bolles and Palczewski on Sunday.