The Broncos rode to a productive showing from the backups in their preseason tilt with the Cardinals, but the night will be remembered for a worrying knee injury to Nick Gargiulo, a seventh‑round rookie from South Carolina who spent 2024 on Denver’s practice squad and had been pushing for a roster spot this season. The injury, seen as potentially season‑ending, compounds Denver’s already lengthy injury report as the team continues to sort depth on the line. Veteran disruptions also loom with Matt Henningsen and Johnny Walker Jr. out for the year, while Drew Sanders and Nate Adkins are expected to miss the start of the season, thinning interior and tackle depth by design.

Fantasy and dynasty managers should take note of the ripple effects. Gargiulo’s loss tightens the competition for reserve OL jobs and could shift who gets late‑season opportunities or practice squad stashes. The Broncos will lean on the next‑man‑up group to absorb more reps in the weeks ahead, and the Cardinals game underscored how critical depth on the line becomes as the roster transitions from preseason depth to regular-season roles. Updates on Gargiulo’s prognosis will matter for late‑round picks and top backup targets alike.

Denver’s preroster cut-day snapshot in camp shows the Broncos managing a thinning injury deck ahead of Thursday’s joint practice with Arizona. OLB Johnny Walker Jr., DE Matt Henningsen, and ILB Drew Sanders are out or limited, with Nik Bonitto present but inactive and Reese Taylor walking with a limp. Nate Adkins is listed as unknown and Damarri Mathis departed, a potential longer-term blow for Denver’s roster plans. Pat Bryant, Denver’s third-round pick, has begun to stamp his mark, making plays from multiple quarterbacks and even delivering a back-shoulder TD. Bo Nix has shown improved accuracy and resilience, connecting with Sutton in the red zone and fueling optimism for the offense. Coaches are balancing workload, emphasizing smart, smart camp practices with minimal risk ahead of the preseason, while reserve defenders like Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson, and Joshua Pickett have flashed. The special teams emphasis remains a key roster-barometer as Denver weighs the depth for Week 1.

In the top-play segments, Nix’s returns blend with Sutton’s chemistry and Bryant’s all-around grit, underscoring a not-quite-set depth chart that pays off for fantasy managers eyeing Denver’s offense. The defense is stock-piling explosive reserves—Newsome, Pickett, and Jordan Jackson each showing pressure and playmaking. While the injury list softens the path, Bryant’s emergence and a steadier Nix should keep Broncos’ fantasy options alive in August, with a few sleeper defensive pieces flirting with roster spots and special-teams roles shaping the final cuts.

Eight Broncos did not dress for the preseason opener, a 30-9 win at San Francisco. The absences included Michael Burton, Reese Taylor, Drew Sanders, Nate Adkins, Alex Singleton, A.T. Perry and Matt Henningsen, with Henningsen later revealed to have torn his Achilles in joint practice and will miss the 2025 season. Dre Greenlaw sat out for San Francisco with a quad, while Greenlaw’s teammates returned to practice next week and Singleton is expected to be ready for Week 1 after a healing thumb. Denver’s next test arrives at home vs Arizona on Aug. 16.

Fantasy-minded readers should note that Henningsen’s injury opens a clearer path for Broncos’ interior defenders, while Burton’s absence could push depth players into fuller blocking and goal-line duty. Perry’s and Adkins’ statuses suggest the Broncos may lean on youth and versatility at pass-catching and will watch minutes behind the starter-heavy trio. San Francisco’s defense may be without Greenlaw early, potentially lifting opportunities for Denver’s ancillary backs and tight ends in subsequent joint practices and exhibitions.

Matt Henningsen will miss the 2025 season after tearing his Achilles during a Denver Broncos joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers, ending his bid for a rotational interior role on the defensive line. He’s set for surgery and will land on season-ending IR, a heavy blow to a unit already navigating depth in a summer of competition. The injury compounds Denver’s interior pressure concerns as it enters the season with veterans and a mix of developing linemen vying for snaps.

Henningsen, 26, was a Wisconsin product drafted in 2022 (sixth round) who appeared in 34 games across 2022-2023, totaling 40 tackles, two pass breakups, two QB hits and one sack on limited opportunities. After spending 2024 on the practice squad, he signed a futures deal in January and had been expected to contribute in a rotational role this season. Denver’s current healthy interior options include Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike, Sai’vion Jones, Jordan Miller and Kristian Williams, with Johnny Walker already on IR. The Broncos now lean on those veterans and younger players to absorb the lost snaps as they pursue a bounce-back year in 2026.

Joint practices with the 49ers underscored the Broncos’ need for consistent interior pressure, and the loss of Henningsen will test the depth chart in camp and early games. The injury narrative tightens Denver’s defensive line storylines for fantasy and betting alike, as adjustments will hinge on who steps into the vacancy and how quickly they adapt to a higher-volume role in 2025.

The Denver Broncos are facing potential turmoil as defensive lineman Matt Henningsen may have suffered a serious Achilles injury during joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers. Reports suggest an imminent MRI will confirm the diagnosis, but early indications suggest it could be a tear, which would sideline him for the entire season. Henningsen, a sixth-round draft pick in 2022, has been a consistent player, participating in all games for two seasons.

This injury raises concerns for the Broncos’ defensive depth, particularly as they prepare for the upcoming season. Losing Henningsen would not only impact their defensive line but also their overall strategy and depth on the roster.