Rookie Max Garcia to start at left guard in place of the injured Evan Mathis

According to the Denver Posts Cameron Wolfe, Broncos rookie offensive guard Max Garcia will get his first career start at left guard tonight ahead of the injured Evan Mathis.

Rookie Max Garcia will get his first career start at left guard in place of Evan Mathis (ankle). Mathis is active, but will not start.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) November 30, 2015

While Evan Mathis is active, the Broncos coaching staff decided to give the start to the rookie Max Garcia instead of the injured Mathis.

While this is Garcia's first career start, he has plenty of game experience this season. He has been seeing snaps at both guard spots during the season giving rest to veteran's Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez.

Earlier this week, Denver Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak said he has a lot of confidence in his young rookie.

"You know what, I have a lot of confidence in him. He's kind of a lot like Brock in a lot of ways. He's been working really hard. I know he's a first-year player, but if you go back, remember there was a time where Max was a starter for us near the end of camp. Then we got Evan and now Max has played a lot of football at various places, so I think that there is some experience there. This would be a tough assignment to draw with his first start, but he's been working really hard to do it and he's had a good week of practice."

It sounds like we'll still see Mathis at times tonight, but Garcia should get the majority of snaps at left guard tonight. Hopefully the young rookie can open up holes in the run game and help keep Patriot defenders from hitting Osweiler.