- The Denver Broncos have placed starting RT Menelik Watson on injured reserve and have signed former Buffalo Bills OT Cyrus Kouandjio in his place, per 9News’ Mike Klis.
- Having been signed to a three-year contract by the Broncos in the offseason, Watson struggled as the starting right tackle in Denver. His season grade of 38.9 ranked 69th among 78 qualifying offensive tackles. He also led the league with nine sacks allowed through nine weeks, equalling the most allowed by a tackle all of last season.
- Kouandjio was a second-round pick of the Bills in 2014 and started seven games during his three years in Orchard Park. His most significant playing time came in the 2016 season, when he started five games at left tackle. He showed promise, posting a season grade of 76.5 which ranked 34th at his position. He allowed 13 total pressures for a pass blocking efficiency of 95.2, which ranked 29th out of 74 qualifying tackles that year.
- With Watson out for the year and Donald Stephenson still recovering from a calf injury, the Broncos will be keen for Kouandjio to step in to the starting right tackle role soon. The one previous game for which they were without Watson saw Allen Barbre start in his place, posting the lowest single game grade of any offensive lineman all season, of just 16.5.
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