The 3-3 Denver Broncos are set to face the 2-4 New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in their seventh regular season game. This match marks Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans after stepping down following the 2021 season. A key matchup to watch is the Saints’ offensive line, currently ranked 28th, against the Broncos’ 13th-ranked defensive line in a contest for supremacy in the trenches. The Broncos hold an advantage, ranking 1st in pass rush and 10th in run stop win rate, while the Saints are 29th in pass blocking and 17th in run blocking, according to ESPN stats. Remarkably, the Broncos have achieved these results without one of their top pass rushers in the starting lineup for an extended period.
Baron Browning suffered a foot injury during the Broncos’ Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading to his placement on injured reserve before Week 3. As a result, he has missed the last four games. Now that four weeks have passed, Browning is eligible to return to the field. On Tuesday, the Broncos designated both Browning and Mike McGlinchey for a return from injured reserve. This opens a 21-day practice window during which Browning can practice before being activated. If he does not practice or the team decides not to activate him within that timeframe, he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. He returned to practice this week.
Baron Browning was reported as a limited participant in practice on Tuesday but was upgraded to a full participant on Wednesday. According to Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, the Denver Broncos intend to activate Browning from injured reserve today and plan to use him in tonight’s game. His return will add energy to their pass rush. The #Broncos are set to activate and play pass rusher Baron Browning tonight against the #Saints, according to sources. Browning was placed on injured reserve after Week 2 but returned to practice this week, providing Denver with an additional rusher.
Nik Bonitto has stepped in for Baron Browning in the starting lineup, starting the last four games in his absence. Bonitto has performed well in place of the injured pass rusher, recording 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, 12 pressures, seven quarterback hits, and four sacks, according to Pro Football Reference. He ranks tied for 2nd in tackles for loss, 3rd in quarterback hits, and 2nd in sacks on the team.
Jonathon Cooper is the other starting EDGE rusher for the Denver Broncos defense. He has performed exceptionally well during the first six games of the 2024 season, recording 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, 12 pressures, ten quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, as per Pro Football Reference. Cooper ranks tied for 2nd in tackles for loss, 2nd in quarterback hits, and 1st in sacks. Similar to Browning, Cooper is in a contract year and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
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