With Mike McGlinchey sidelined, Alex Palczewski gets his first opportunity with the Denver Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos received bad news over the weekend, when they learned that right tackle Mike McGlinchey will miss at least four weeks with a sprained MCL.

“He played really well on Sunday, and I thought he did a really good job against a great edge player,” quarterback Bo Nix said on Wednesday. “That’s going to affect us, but it’s next man up and we feel really strong about ‘Palcho.'”

“Palcho” is Alex Palczewski, a 25-year-old second-year tackle out of Illinois.

“‘Palcho’ is one of those guys that he’s been competing,” head coach Sean Payton said. “We’ll be smart relative to what we’re doing protection wise, but he’s played in a lot of football games. I know he’ll be excited about his first start.”

Palczewski started 65 games at Illinois, the most in NCAA history. He earned All-America honors in his final season, thanks in part to not giving up a single sack in his final 713 plays in pass protection.

The Broncos signed Palczewski as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He made the initial 53-man roster thanks to a stellar training camp, but spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve.

Now, with McGlinchey sidelined, Palczewski gets his chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.

“Mike McGlinchey has helped me tenfold since I’ve gotten here to improve,” Palczewski said on Wednesday. “It’s been an awesome time here so far.”

“Obviously there’s gonna be a level of nerves,” Palczewski said. “I did six years in Illinois. I got plenty of starts under my belt, but, obviously, it’s the NFL and there’s a lot of really good players. I’m just gonna do the best job that I can, work on my technique, and just know that I’m going to give as much effort as I can to protect the gus around me and play for the guys to the left and right of me.”

Injuries are part of the NFL ecosystem.

If Kareem Jackson hadn’t missed time last year, the Broncos wouldn’t have learned that PJ Locke is a capable NFL starter.

If K’Waun Williams hadn’t been injured, Ja’Quan McMillian wouldn’t have gotten his shot to prove himself.

When guards Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner were both injured in 2021, Netane Muti and Quinn Meinerz were gifted their first opportunities. Meinerz ran with it, Muti did not.

While the Broncos will sorely miss McGlinchey, learning what an exciting young player like Palczewski can provide is a small silver lining.

Nix believes Palczewski is ready for his opportunity.

“Those guys practice really hard in training camp,” Nix said. “They see the calls and they’re in meetings, so it doesn’t necessarily affect us a whole lot. Obviously, it’s a new guy and we have to make sure he’s hearing the calls and make sure that you bring him up to speed as best as you can and help him out and not leave him out to dry. I think, especially ‘Palcho’ with his experience, he’ll do a really good job of keeping that O-line going and continue that trajectory of it going.”

Injury Report

The Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their initial Week 3 injury report on Wednesday.

The big news, of course is that McGlinchey is headed to injured reserve, but he’s only th headline on a long list of names.

Here’s the injury report for Wednesday…

Broncos

Buccaneers

Notes

• With McGlinchey on injured reserve, the Broncos had a free roster spot. They promoted outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman to the active roster. Payton: “He’s doing fine. He’s someone who’s strong and good at the point of attack. He’s been getting reps throughout training camp. He’s doing a good job.”
  
  

• Twelve Broncos were nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025:
  
  WR Demaryius Thomas
  WR Rod Smith
  WR Brandon Marshall
  WR Wes Welker
  RB Clinton Portis
  OL Tom Nalen
  OL Mark Schlereth
  DL Neil Smith
  LB Bill Romanowski
  CB Aqib Talib
  DB Dré Bly
  K Jason Elam
  
  
• The Broncos will debut their new orange jerseys on Sunday.
  
  
• Denver is 7-3 all-time against Tampa Bay, and 3-1 in Tampa.