Hurt Broncos OL Garett Bolles, CB Ronald Darby out for year

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — An ugly loss Thursday night to the Indianapolis Colts turned even uglier Friday morning for the Denver Broncos as coach Nathaniel Hackett said left tackle Garett Bolles (leg/ankle) and cornerback Ronald Darby (knee) will miss the remainder of the season.

In the span of four days — Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and Thursday's loss to the Colts — the Broncos have seen running back Javonte Williams, Bolles and Darby each suffer season-ending injuries.

Bolles suffered a fractured lower right leg with just over three minutes remaining in regulation of the 12-9 overtime loss to the Colts. The Broncos were not optimistic about the sixth-year tackle's short-term prognosis when he was examined by the medical staff.

He was taken for additional tests Friday morning and the need for surgery to repair the fracture was confirmed. Bolles has been one of the team's more durable players, having started from his first game as a rookie in 2016 when he was the first-round-draft pick. He has missed just four games in his career (three last season — two with an ankle injury and another on the COVID-19/reserve list).

Darby, who had ACL surgery in 2018 when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles, suffered his injury just before halftime. Wide receiver Tim Patrick, who led the team in touchdown catches last year, suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp to go with Williams' injury this past Sunday, so the Broncos (2-3) have suffered significant losses at the top of the depth chart over five games.

Outside linebacker Randy Gregory also suffered meniscus damage in his knee against the Raiders and will miss several weeks.

«Injuries are things as a coach, I can't control,'' Hackett said. „They're long-term