Shane Ray to miss extended time once again

Shane Ray can’t catch a break.

After getting a second opinion on his left wrist, the former first-round pick will require another surgery to clean up the same wrist that was operated on three times in the past 10 months, according to Ian Rapoport.

The surgery is expected to keep Ray out for three months, which would be right around the time the Denver Broncos’ season begins on Sept. 9. It is believed the pass rusher will miss at least a game or two at the beginning of the season.

Ray originally injured his left wrist during Denver’s first training camp practice last year, causing him to miss three months as well.

His first surgery landed him on the injured reserve, keeping him out the rest of training camp, all of the preseason and the first six games of the regular season.

When Ray was cleared to play, however, he was forced to wear a cast, limiting his ability on the field. Once Denver was clearly eliminated from the playoff picture, Ray was once again placed on the injured reserve for the final two games of the season.

Ray finished the 2017 season with seven starts in eight games, compiling one sack.

Ray’s original injury was officially diagnosed as a torn ligament in his wrist, but was far more gruesome than the diagnosis would suggest. He later had two smaller surgeries to remove screws and pins.

It is not known whether Ray will be required to wear a cast once he is cleared to play this season.

Before his injury last year, Ray was on a promising career path, racking up 12 career sacks on eight total starts in his first two years in the league. However, after his wrist injury derailed his season last year, the Broncos chose not to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2019 season.

It is now expected that Bradley Chubb, the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 draft, will have an even greater role in Denver’s defense.