Mike Purcell is out for the season

According to KOA’s Brandon Krisztal, the Broncos will need to play the remainder of the NFL season without Mike Purcell.

Fortunately for Purcell, he only just recently signed a three year contract extension with the Denver Broncos earlier this month. While the contract carried just over $4 million in guarantees, the 2021 base salary is only guaranteed for injury.

Perhaps the poster child for the merits of a developmental league, Purcell fought his way back into the NFL after the AAF folded last year. The former Salt Lake Stallion signed with the Broncos in camp and made himself too valuable to let go.

As a fan favorite, losing Purcell is going to most impact the Broncos base run defense. While the injury situation along the defensive line this year has led Purcell to playing more snaps in nickel personnel than he ever has before, that was going to change regardless with both Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker healthy and ready to play.

In their absence, both Timmy Jernigan and Sylvester Williams were brought into town and one will likely receive another call. DeShawn Williams should also see his role grow as he’s been playing well.

We’ll now find out who was more instrumental to the run defense: Purcell or Alexander Johnson. Both came into their roles after the week four debacle against the Jacksonville Jaguars a year ago and have played in every game since. From week five of the 2019 season onwards, the Fangio run defense has been quite good.