Denver Broncos offensive lineman Quinn Bailey was carted off the practice field on Wednesday and placed on the team’s season-ending injured reserve list on Thursday. After the lineman was placed on IR, Broncos coach Sean Payton provided an update on the injury.

“There are two parts to the injury,” Payton explained. “He dislocated his ankle and he fractured his fibula, the smaller bone a little further up. Next week — I don’t have the day yet, but he’ll have the ankle surgery and there’s probably a good chance they’ll just leave the fibula and let it heal, but they’ll look at that. The main injury is the ankle, so he’ll have that done next week.”

Bailey was poised to serve as the team’s top backup offensive lineman this season before his injury. Payton spoke with Bailey after the lineman was released from the hospital.

“They set it, and then when I spoke with him, he was at home,” Payton said. “He sounded a little groggy, but upbeat. Very quickly he’ll be in the building here rehabbing and I think that’ll be good when he’s around his teammates.”

Bailey, 28, was used in “jumbo” formations last season. He started two games over the last two years, playing 143 snaps in 2023. The Broncos will now do their best to help Bailey recover and return to the field in 2025.