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LAS VEGAS — Denver outside linebacker Randy Gregory slammed his helmet on the ground in frustration as trainers worked on his right knee during the fourth quarter.
Gregory, who signed a five-year, $70-million deal this offseason and is off to a strong start with the Broncos, was carted to the locker room.
After the game he insisted to reporters that he wasn’t going to talk about the injury but was fine.
Head coach Nathaniel Hackett said the team won’t know the extent of Gregory’s injury until a Monday MRI.
Safety P.J. Locke suffered a concussion on the opening kickoff and did not play the remainder of the game. He’ll be in the league’s protocol, which is set to be modified in the coming days, going forward. In the second half, outside linebacker Aaron Patrick also suffered a concussion.
Complicating matters: The Broncos’ quick turnaround with a game Thursday night against Indianapolis in Denver.
Singleton’s alert play. Special teams coordinator Dwyane Stukes recently extolled linebacker Alex Singleton’s value on special teams and Singleton showed it again Sunday. Las Vegas tried a surprise onside kick after scoring a touchdown for a 10-7 lead in the second quarter and the ball bounced free after neither Justin Strnad or Essang Bassey could corral it.
Singleton, though, alertly pounced on the ball, setting Denver up at its own 48. The offense couldn’t fully capitalize, however, and settled for a field goal.
Washington’s big day. Denver rookie Montrell Washington returned three punts for 66 yards, including a 30-yarder in the first quarter. That total is the most by a Bronco since December of 2020 when Dionte Spencer had 83 at Carolina.
Inactives. Denver defensive lineman D.J. Jones (concussion) and right guard Dalton Risner (ankle) both played after entering Sunday as questionable.
Jones got off to a hot start, stuffing Josh Jacobs in the red zone in the first quarter to help force a field goal and then sacking Derek Carr on the next series.
Risner played every snap for Denver on offense.
Denver’s full inactive list: Rookie wide receiver Jalen Virgil and rookie defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, both of whom have been inactive each week, plus injured offensive linemen Quinn Meinerz (hamstring) and Billy Turner (knee), outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), cornerback Darrius Phillips (hamstring) and receiver Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), each of whom were ruled out Friday due to injury.
IR update. Rookie tight end Greg Dulcich and cornerback Michael Ojemudia went through a light on-field workout prior to Sunday’s game. They are each eligible to return from the short-term injured reserve list next week and Hackett said both have a good chance of doing just that.
Dulcich suffered a hamstring injury during minicamp in June and Ojemudia injured his knee in the preseason. Once players on the short-term IR list return to practice, they have a three-week window during which they can either be added back to the active roster or placed on season-ending IR.
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