Ronald

Leary

He left without a deal. This is the first interest in Leary since the Broncos declined his option. Injury-prone Leary has missed 24 games the last two seasons. He’s a back-end starter when healthy.

Two months shy of his 31st birthday, Leary provided 12 mediocre starts in 2019. Returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon, he also missed time with a concussion. Leary could struggle to find guaranteed money on the open market.

Leary’s absence is bad news for the entire Broncos’ rushing attack. Phillip Lindsay continues to see high-end RB2 usage, although the talented second-year RB hasn’t managed to reach 100 total yards in a game since Week 5. Royce Freeman appeared to be trending out of the offense after posting a season-low 29% snap rate in Week 11, but he’s since been on the field for 55%, 56% and 46% of the offense’s snaps. Treat Lindsay as a volume-based RB2 that is due for a big-time performance. Freeman is a touchdown-dependent RB4 at best due to volume concerns despite the prime matchup.

Leary will miss at least one game in the concussion protocol. This will be his first absence of the year. Austin Schlottman will start in Leary’s place.

Leary is 10 months removed from a torn Achilles. He hasn’t practiced much, but the Broncos think he has enough time to get cleared for the start of the season. Denver is counting on a healthy Leary on what should be an improved offensive line.

Leary suffered a torn Achilles’ in October, but he has already started taking reps during team drills at practice. “I’m doing everything out there. I’ve been cleared by the doctors,” Leary said. “I feel great. I haven’t had any setbacks. Like I said, I’m doing everything and feel great out there.” Now healthy, Leary is expected to switch over to right guard to make room for second-round rookie Dalton Risner.

Depending on how “limited” Leary is, this could mean he is ahead of schedule after suffering a torn Achilles in Week 6 of last year. If Leary is cleared for training camp, the Broncos may toy with putting Leary at right guard again depending on how versatile second-round rookie Dalton Risner looks at practice.

Leary played right guard during his first season in Denver, but last year he moved back to the left side, where he played in Dallas. Second-round rookie Dalton Risner would take over the left guard spot if Leary moves or play right guard if Leary stays put. All of this assumes the veteran is able to return from his October Achilles’ tear prior to Week 1.

Leary is out for the season with a torn Achilles. He’s been replaced by Max Garcia in the starting lineup. The Broncos signed Nico Falah of the Jets’ practice squad to take Leary’s roster spot.

He’s obviously done for the season. Leary was replaced in the lineup by Max Garcia, who will now hold the gig the rest of the way. 29-year-old Leary has two more years left on his deal at $8.15 million annually. He could be a candidate to be cut next offseason. The Broncos are a total mess.