After an injury scare during practice today that saw defensive end Derek Wolfe get carted off with an ankle injury, we have received some good news on the Broncos big run stuffer.
Wolfe has ankle injury Broncos do not believe to be serious https://t.co/whDSmtw1Tk via @9NEWS #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) August 12, 2017
9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis reported earlier today that the Broncos believe that Wolfe has a lower ankle injury and it does not appear to be serious. He is still getting tests but it’s looking good for Wolfe.
Head Coach Vance Joseph was asked after practice about what he knew about Wolfe’s injury severity and he echoed Klis’s report.
“It’s an ankle injury. We’re not sure how bad. We’re kind of assuming it’s not that bad, but it’s a lower-ankle injury.”
When news on Wolfe dodging a major injury broke, reporters started asking players about Wolfe’s impact on the team, and All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris summed it up perfectly. He said Wolfe is the Broncos best run stopper and that they need him this year.
“We have to be able to stop the run. That was our problem last year. Teams are going to check us. They’re going to check to see if we stopped that. Whether we can come out and run goal line offense, run the ball, and pound us until we stop it. We need Derek Wolfe. He is our best run defender. He’s our leader upfront. You have to have a guy like him to be able to anchor us.”
The Broncos did struggle against the run last season and losing Wolfe before the season even starts would be a major blow to the Broncos defense. With the lack of depth along the defensive line, you can argue that Derek Wolfe is the most irreplaceable defensive player on the Broncos roster. You lose Von, you have Ray and Barrett(eventually), you lose Harris or Talib and you have Harris/Talib and Roby. So it’s great to see that Wolfe is a-okay.
Appreciate the love. Dodged a bullet.#DEFWU #blameitonthecleats
— Derek Wolfe (@Derek_Wolfe95) August 12, 2017
Veteran nose tackle Domata Peko also summed out how important Wolfe is the Broncos locker room. He called him a “no nonsense sort of guy” which is very true as we know.
“Wolfe is a dude who is a no nonsense guy. He’s always tough on people. He’s a really tough dude and people follow that lead. When you have a really aggressive guy, you need that stuff on the defensive line. He’s a great leader, a great person and hopefully he’s alright. I’m going to go check on him right now.”
So it’s great to see that Wolfe is okay for the most part. The MRI results which we will likely get tonight or tomorrow will reveal how much time he will miss, but it appears whatever time he misses won’t be an extended absence for him.
The Broncos already lost defensive Billy Winn for the year, Kyle Peko is still on the PUP(could be coming off soon) and Adam Gotsis has been working his way back from an offseason knee scope, so the Broncos defensive line depth has been tested already.
Hopefully, this group will get healthy for the start of the regular season when we will really need them.
Update:
Wolfe gave us a visual update on his ankle and well, it’s rather swollen.
Just a little swelling pic.twitter.com/iCz1TL7FhE
— Derek Wolfe (@Derek_Wolfe95) August 12, 2017
Looks unpleasant but appears to be just your run of the mill ankle sprain(I am not a doctor lol).
Another update:
ESPN’s Josina Anderson texted Derek Wolfe and he revealed that he has suffered a severe sprain and tore a ligament in his ankle, but will not require surgery and will be back for week one.
Derek Wolfe text to me: "It's a really bad sprain." Adds there's a "tear" in his ligament. Says "no surgery needed though." Says "ready Wk1"
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 12, 2017
Wolfe is also blaming his ankle injury and Billy Winn’s knee injury on the cleats that they are wearing.
Derek Wolfe also text me he feels "the cleats are to blame." He says they are the "same cleat (Billy) Winn was wearing when he tore knee."
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 12, 2017
It might be time to get these guys some better cleats.