Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James has suffered a torn Achilles and will miss quite a bit of time.
James suffered the injury while training away from the Broncos’ facility. James was part of the players boycott that refused to not show up to offseason workouts at the team facility due to COVID-19. With the injury occurring outside of the team facility, Denver may be able to avoid paying a portion of James’ guaranteed money in 2021.
The former first round pick opted out of last season due to the pandemic, so his 2020 contract rolled into this season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, James had $10 million guaranteed for skill and injury and another $10 million in 2021. So it’s essentially a $20 million torn Achilles injury.
Had James been injured while working out at the Broncos’ facility he would have been fully covered by the team.
According to Mike Garafolo of The NFL Network, doctors evaluated the James’ injury and are hopeful that he won’t miss the entire season. Surgery is expected to happen later this week.
If James does come back at the end of the season, he could get some of his money back.
Since signing with the Broncos in 2019 for a record breaking four-year, $51 million deal, James has only played 63 snaps. James suffered a minor knee injury in 2019 and was able to return from injury, but did what he did best and held out because he was not back to exactly 100%.
With James being out, right tackle Calvin Anderson will be the starter at the moment for the Broncos. Anderson started in just two games last season, but appeared in all 16.
Denver lost former right tackle Elijah Wilkinson who filled in last season to the Chicago Bears in free agency. General manager George Paton didn’t draft a single offensive tackle this past weekend.
Per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Broncos have been making calls for potential right tackles including Charles Leno, formerly of the Bears. Leno was just recently released by Chicago after they drafted his replacement.
Leno was a seventh round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but has started in 93 straight games over the past seven seasons with the Bears. In Chicago, Leno did play mainly left tackle, so he would have to make the switch to the right side for the Broncos.
Another name to watch out for is former Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher who is visiting the Indianapolis Colts this week. If Fisher can move to right tackle, Denver could attempt to bring him in.
This injury is not a good look for the NFLPA and it hurts the Broncos once again at the right tackle position. Denver has not been able to solve the position dating back to 2014 when they moved Orlando Franklin to left guard.
More from The Woody Paige Sports Network:
- Woody Paige: That time I played blackjack with Michael Jordan in Monte Carlo
- Atlanta Falcons lose by accidentally scoring a touchdown
- John Elway’s 7 best moments as General Manager of the Denver Broncos
- Woody Paige: Drew Lock still the most likely starting QB for Broncos in 2021
- 3 Potential landing spots for Julio Jones
- Denver Broncos favored to land Aaron Rodgers via trade
