Denver Broncos rookie Ty Sambrailo believes he was “Drafted to play”

Injuries are unfortunate and yet uncontrollable. When Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady went down last week with a torn ACL, Denver Broncos fans lamented the loss.

But in the NFL, it’s “next man up” as every backup understands he’s one play away from being the starter. Ty Sambrailo, the rookie tackle Denver drafted out of Colorado State in the second round a month ago, has been thrown into the fire. And even with the demand of learning a new playbook while practicing against All-Pro DeMarcus Ware, Sambrailo has held onto his confidence.

“I think I was drafted to play,” Sambrailo said post-OTA practice Monday. “I think the coaching staff didn’t really have a choice either. They kind of decided to throw me in there, give me a shot and see what I can do.”

Apparently, Sambrailo’s doing solid in practice, as new head coach Gary Kubiak explained post practice.

“He’s done a good job. He’s smart, so that’s not a problem. He’s kind of going through a process right now,” Kubiak explained. “I sat Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware for a day—one day out of the three. I think he feels pretty good about himself that day, and all of a sudden here they come. Well, that’s the real deal. But that’s what I told him: ‘Not many guys get to work against two Pro Bowl players on a daily basis and you will.’ He’s had no problem mentally. Physically, it’s just going to be a continuous deal. He’s a worker. I think the players respect how he’s going about his business. Like I said, he’s got to do it really fast.”

There are always learning curves when jumping from college to the pros, but at least Sambrailo’s mentally excelling. Now he’s got to catch up on the physical side of things, which should only improve through practice reps.

“The things are getting a little bit smoother a little bit quicker—less thinking and more playing,” Sambrailo said. “I’m just kind of excited about growing as a player.”

Of course, left tackle is arguably the second most important position on the offense other than quarterback, as the player has to protect Peyton Manning’s blindside. At 39 years old and four years removed from multiple neck fusion surgeries, Manning’s a bit brittle. Don’t forget the torn right quadriceps injury Manning played through last season after being hit by a defender.

And don’t think for a second the Broncos can compete for a Super Bowl this season without Manning under center, dissecting defenses with the precision of a doctor in surgery.

Luckily for Denver, it seems Sambrailo is preparing himself to start, and as he said Monday, he was planning on competing for a spot from the day of the NFL Draft.