Broncos lose another starter on the offensive line

The Broncos’ offensive line took another hit on Thursday.

An MRI showed that right guard Max Garcia tore his ACL during practice Thursday, according to 9News’ Mike Klis. Garcia didn’t start for the Broncos early in the season but injuries across the line pushed him back onto the field a few weeks ago. Garcia is the third Broncos’ offensive lineman to suffer a season-ending injury this year.

Garcia was a full participant in Thursday’s practice, the report states, but he told team doctors afterward that his left knee didn’t feel right. The MRI showed a partial tear of his left ACL.

Garcia, a fourth-round pick in 2015, started five games as a rookie and all 16 in each of the past two seasons. This summer, Garcia lost a training camp battle for the right guard job to Connor McGovern and began the season on the bench. But when veteran left guard Ron Leary went down with a torn achilles in October, he returned to the lineup. Garcia has started four consecutive games for the Broncos.

When the Broncos take on the Chargers in Los Angeles this Sunday, their starters along the offensive line will be Garett Bolles, Billy Turner, McGovern, Elijah Wilkinson and Jared Veldheer. It will be Wilkinson’s first career start.

Starting center Matt Paradis—who hadn’t missed a snap since earning the job in 2015—broke his fibula against the Texans. Both he and Garcia are in the final year of their rookie contracts and will be free agents after the season.