The Broncos earned an impressive comeback win on Sunday, but their offensive line will be shorthanded for an extended period. Left guard Ben Powers is dealing with a biceps injury which will lead to a notable absence. 
Powers did not join the Broncos on their flight to London today. Instead, Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post notes he returned to Denver for evaluation on his injury. Testing has resulted in an unwanted prognosis. 9News’ Mike Klis reports Powers is heading to injured reserve.
The 28-year-old is set to miss at least the next four games as a result. However, Powers is in store for an extended absence. Per Klis, the team hopes to have him back in the fold at some point in December. That would represent a recovery timeline of roughly two months.
Since arriving in free agency in 2023, Powers has yet to miss a game. This absence will thus be a rare one, but it will also deal a blow to Denver’s highly-regarded offensive line. That unit played a critical role in quarterback Bo Nix‘s impressive rookie campaign and has remained strong in the early portion of the current season. Powers’ PFF evaluation to date has been in line with his previous Broncos performances.
The Oklahoma product is under contract through 2026, although none of his base salary for next year is locked in. Powers managing to return to full health late in the season could therefore prove to be key in ensuing he remains in Denver moving forward. In any case, the Broncos will be relying on one or more replacements along the interior of the O-line for the time being.