Report: Ja'Wuan James Won't Play In Week 6 But Is Expected To Next Week vs. Chiefs
The Denver Broncos will take on the Tennessee Titans today and although he's listed as questionable, Denver 7's Troy Renck reports that right tackle Ja'Wuan James is not expected to play.
However, as I mused on Friday, Renck reports that James, if he continues on his current trajectory, is expected to play next Thursday night vs. the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos signed James to a four-year, $51 million contract back in March in the belief that the team had finally solved their right tackle woes. James' talent was never questionable. The only concern with the James signing was his durability, as he had only played a full 16-game season twice since entering the league in 2014.
Sure enough, the injury bug jumped up and bit Ja'Wuan James in the Broncos season-opener vs. Oakland, as he suffered left knee sprain — 10 snaps in.
The Broncos have been forced to get by with Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle. In the running game, Wilkinson is an asset as he blocks with a natural guard's road-grading power.
In pass protection, however, the Broncos have been compromised by Wilkinson's lack of footspeed and athleticism. It has no doubt forced OC Rich Scangarello to call games differently, minimizing long five- and seven-step drops for QB Joe Flacco.
That's all fine and dandy, but those five- and seven-step drops are usually the big-shot plays that are longer developing downfield. James' injury has echoed through the Broncos' first quarter (and more) of the season.
If all goes as expected and the Broncos get James back on a short-week game vs. the Chiefs, it will no doubt serve as a shot in the arm for that offensive line and improve Denver's chance of getting a win at home.
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