As the Denver Broncos prepare for their crucial Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, their injury report presents a promising outlook for their postseason aspirations. After missing the past three games due to an MCL injury, starting cornerback Riley Moss is set to return to action, providing a much-needed boost to the Broncos’ secondary as they face the Bengals’ top-ranked passing offense.
Additionally, running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who has been sidelined with a quadriceps injury sustained against the Indianapolis Colts two weeks ago, is also expected to make his return. McLaughlin, who has averaged an impressive 4.5 yards per carry this season, will add speed and depth to Denver’s offense. The Broncos may also see the return of Tyler Badie, who has been on injured reserve with a back injury since Week 4, when he suffered the injury against the New York Jets. Badie’s 21-day practice window was activated on Tuesday, and he participated fully in practices from Tuesday through Thursday, although he is listed as questionable for the game. If Badie is deemed ready and able to handle contact, he could be a valuable addition to the Broncos’ backfield.
Tyler Badie is the only player on the Broncos’ injury list with a designation, as he is listed as questionable due to his back injury. McLaughlin is recovering from his quadriceps issue, while Moss is recovering from his knee injury, and wide receiver Troy Franklin is dealing with an ankle problem, but none of them have been given any game status concerns.
A win over the Bengals on Saturday would not only be crucial for the Broncos’ playoff hopes but would also secure their first postseason berth since 2015. Currently sitting as the No. 7 seed, Denver has the opportunity to climb as high as the No. 5 seed by the end of the regular season. However, to achieve this, they must finish with a better record than both the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers, as those teams hold tiebreakers over the Broncos.
