The Denver Broncos are navigating health concerns with several players, but one, starting offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz, is pushing through and performing like the best at his position while doing it.
Meinerz, who turns 27 on November 15, has played in all 17 regular-season games in back-to-back campaigns.
He does not plan on changing that this season, so long as his body cooperates.
Quinn Meinerz Reveals Undiagnosed Illness
GettyQuinn Meinerz #77 of the Denver Broncos on the field against the New Orleans Saints.
The Broncos selected Meinerz with the No. 98 overall pick in the 2021 draft, and he has manned their starting right guard spot since mid-way through his rookie season.
A First Team All-Pro in 2024, he is now working through a new, still undefined issue.
âJust a little bit of an illness,ââ Meinerz told The Denver Gazetteâs Chris Tomasson on November 13. âItâs something Iâve been battling here and there throughout the entire season. Still donât necessarily have answers but working through it every single day, and weâll see what happens.â
Meinerz told Tomasson that the illness is ârandomâ and âsome days I feel great, some days I donât.â
He said the issue bothered him during the Broncosâ Week 10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
âGot some IVs and vitals,â Meinerz said, per 9Newsâ Mike Klis. âGlad I was able to go back out there. We needed to put the game away. And we did. We needed to get out of there and get to the (weekend) break. Start getting our bodies feeling a little bit better. I didnât realize we played such a historic run of games. And on top of it, we played a historic run of games while also we had to come back in the 4th quarter a bunch.â
Meinerz has no intentions of missing the Broncosâ Week 11 tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs.
That is good news for the Broncos, and quarterback Bo Nix in particular. They are facing an aggressive Chiefs defense, and they have already been forced into shuffling their starting five multiple times this season.
Tomasson noted Meinerzâs toughness and that Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran third among all guards heading into Week 11.
Bronco OL Battling Injury Bug
GettyAlex Palczewski #63 of the Denver Broncos on the field after facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Meinerzâs presence is key, with the Broncos still missing starting left guard Ben Powers, following a torn biceps that landed him on injured reserve. They hope to have him back in December, but that is not guaranteed.
When Powers went down, the Broncos turned to veteran Matt Peart. However, Peart landed on IR, too, suffering a knee injury in Week 6 against the New York Jets. It was his first start.
Former sixth O-lineman Alex Palczewski has since stepped in and performed well at LG.
The Broncos have been fortunate to emerge from in-game scares, particularly at right tackle with Mike McGlinchey. They have also avoided the injury woes that affected center Luke Wattenberg last season.
Still, the Broncosâ offensive line garnered kudos during the preseason for its intended starting five. Just like any team, they are not as good when they are not whole.
Keeping Meinerz in the mix is as much about his play as what it means for the group.
Quinn Meinerz Has Ripple Effect on OL
GettyQuinn Meinerz #77 and Troy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos celebrate a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.
Meinerz is not only an intended starter for the Broncos, but he is also one of the best in the business. Meinerz being available means one less thing that Nix and the Broncos coaches, i.e., head coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, must gameplan for.
It also makes for fewer adjustments during games, because Meinerz has been so consistent.
With the Broncos facing a team like the Chiefs, who blitz at the NFLâs sixth-highest rate, per Pro Football Reference, Nix has enough on his plate.
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