Broncos LT Garett Bolles “going to be fine” after missing final two drives with ankle injury, HC Sean Payton says

SEATTLE — The Broncos played nearly the entire 2023 season with their starting offensive line intact.

They hit adversity up front in the first game of 2024.

Left tackle Garett Bolles left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

Bolles, Denver’s longest-tenured player, went back to the locker room area and had an MRI, head coach Sean Payton said. Then he returned to the sideline and had his helmet on and a couple of times tried to run back onto the field.

Instead, he watched from the sideline down the stretch.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Payton said. “He had an MRI and I think the evaluation was fine. He has a bruise.”

Bolles declined to speak with reporters at his locker after the game, walked gingerly and had several teammates approach him to offer support.

His last play of the game was a third-and-6 with 13 minutes, 45 seconds remaining. He missed the offense’s final 15 snaps. Matt Peart, the fifth-year NFL player who signed with Denver as a free agent this spring, filled in for Bolles over the final two drives. Peart also served as the Broncos’ jumbo tight end, a role that Quinn Bailey held until he broke his leg in training camp.

Vele’s debut. Nobody’s going to put up big numbers when a team finishes with 138 passing yards. Still, rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele showed he’ll be a regular part of the offense in his NFL debut, catching all eight passes thrown his way.

The grabs only generated 39 yards, but the seventh-round pick was a frequent target of fellow rookie Bo Nix.

“It was good exposure and I was happy with the fight that we showed,” Vele said of his first outing. “Obviously it didn’t go the way that we wanted it to, but there’s a lot on the film that we can learn from and continue to take each week.”

Vele didn’t have a catch longer than 9 yards.

“I’m not too worried about stats,” Vele said. “I’m just trying to contribute and help the team where I can. If that means I get 10 catches or zero catches, at the end of the day that doesn’t matter. I’ve just got to do my job and contribute.”

Surtain’s quality outing. Cornerback Pat Surtain II started game week with a four-year, $96 million extension and then showed why he’s worth the money in Week 1. The Broncos’ All-Pro for the most part traveled with top Seattle receiver DK Metcalf.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Surtain was lined up across from Metcalf on 24 of the 25 routes he ran in the game.

Metcalf finished with three catches on four targets for 29 yards total.

Singleton’s pick. Inside linebacker Alex Singleton intercepted Seattle quarterback Geno Smith on the second play of the game.

The interception was Singleton’s first as a Bronco and just the third of his NFL career. It was his first pick since Dec. 26, 2021, when he played for Philadelphia.

Inactives. The Broncos entered Sunday with a healthy 53-man roster and thus had only healthy scratches for the game. Their inactives: TE Lucas Krull, DL Eyioma Uwazurike and four rookies — WR Troy Franklin, RB Blake Watson, OT Frank Crum and CB Kris Abrams-Draine. QB Zach Wilson was also technically inactive but was in uniform as the Broncos’ designated emergency third quarterback.

Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.