Report: Broncos' DL Derek Wolfe has high-ankle sprain, expected to miss some time

It could have been worse for Derek Wolfe.

Broncos Country held its collective breath when starting defensive end Derek Wolfe not only went down with an injury at Lambeau Field, but was carted off the field. 

The Denver Broncos would go onto lose to the Green Bay Packers 27-16, despite the defensive line doing a great job in Wolfe's absence to stop the run. Denver held Green Bay to just 77 yards rushing, a season-low for the Broncos. 

As for Wolfe, per Denver7's Troy Renck, on-site tests were negative. No broken bones but Wolfe does have a high-ankle sprain. 

He's going to miss at least one game but he hopes the ankle injury will cost him 'minimal time'. Wolfe's a tough guy but he's also 29 years old and doesn't heal as fast as he used to. 

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Wolfe has developed a reputation in the fanbase for being injury-prone, as he's only played all 16 games in a season twice since entering the league as a Broncos' second-round pick back in 2012. He plays hard, though, and puts his body on the line, which unfortunately leads to injury. 

At 29 years old, Wolfe is in a contract year and is a new father. 2019 might not be his last year as a Bronco, but it'll definitely be his last year with an $8 million salary. 

Wolfe is valuable as a run-stuffer on first and second down but if the first few games of this season are any indication, he's really lost a step as a pass rusher. He has 26 career sacks and only had 1.5 last year, despite 2018 being one of the only two full 16-game seasons he's played. 

Inside linebacker Josey Jewell also went down with an injury vs. Green Bay. It's a hamstring issue and my educated guess is that he'll be day-to-day. 

In Wolfe's stead, the Broncos will give Dre'Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker additional reps. If Jewell is a no-go this week vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars, Corey Nelson will once again be leaned on by the Broncos. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.