ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The next man up is ready to take the field.
After right tackle Mike McGlinchey was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, second-year tackle Alex Palczewski is set to take his place in Week 3.
And while McGlinchey, who played all of Denver's offensive snaps in Week 1 against Seattle, has left some big shoes to fill, Head Coach Sean Payton is confident that Palczewski is in good position to step up and find success moving forward.
"'Palcho' is one of those guys, he's been competing," Payton said Wednesday. "We'll be smart relative to what we're doing protection-wise, but he's played in a lot of football games. I know he'll be excited about his first start."
Palczewski has certainly seen a lot of football. After starting all 65 games he played in during his six seasons at Illinois, the second-year player feels relatively comfortable taking on this new role.
"There's going to be a level of nerves, but I did six years at Illinois, so I got plenty of starts under my belt," Palczewski said. "Obviously it's the NFL and there's a lot of really good players, but I'm just going to do the best job I can, work on my technique and just know that I want to give as much as effort as I can to protect the guys around me and play for the guys to the left and right of me."
Palczewski, who has appeared in both of Denver's games this season, said that he believes his technique and strength have dramatically improved since his arrival in 2023 as a college free agent. While he credited the coaching staff and strength and conditioning staff with fueling a lot of this progress, he also noted that the guy he is stepping up to replace has played a significant role in his development as a player.
"Stuff that [McGlinchey] had to go through that he wished someone would've told him, he [has] helped me figure out that stuff," Palczewski said. "Just getting to pick his brain and how he thinks and how he goes about his process, it's been an awesome chance to have."
Palczewski said he spent the offseason working out with McGlinchey "almost the entire time," observing and absorbing knowledge that he believes will be beneficial as he takes on his first NFL start. And while Palczewski noted that "there's still such a long way to go" in terms of reaching his potential as a player, he believes the progress he has made will allow him to fully embrace the opportunity ahead of him this weekend.
"It's an awesome opportunity," Palczewski said. "… The offensive line, it's the only job where it's your sole job to protect someone else. So, I'm just excited to go play for the guys in here and play my first game."
For quarterback Bo Nix, this mindset is one he believes will allow the offense to not skip a beat as they look ahead to Denver's next matchups.
"I think especially 'Palcho' with his experience, he'll do a really good job of keeping that O-line going," Nix said.
Tight end Adam Trautman, who also arrived in Denver in 2023, has been able to witness the hard work and progress of Palczewski throughout his time as a Bronco. Trautman, like many of his teammates, believes Palczewski is prepared for this next challenge.
"He's been great," Trautman said. "… [He's] super dependable, super hardworking and he's very in-tune on all of his technique and assignments. So, I think we're excited to have a guy like 'Palcho' be able to step up."
As the Broncos look ahead to Week 3, they are confident in what the next man up will bring to the table.
"It's next man up, and we feel really strong about 'Palcho' and what he'll do for us," Nix said.
TAMPA BAY IS FIRST PRIORITY ON BRONCOS' TWO-WEEK ROAD TRIP
As the Broncos set out for a two-week road trip, they are still maintaining a 'one-game-at-a-time' mindset.
The Broncos will travel to Tampa Bay in Week 3 and New York in Week 4, with a stop in West Virginia to train for the week between the two games.
And while cornerback Pat Surtain II said the trip will present a "unique opportunity" for building team camaraderie both on and off the field, the team still understands the importance of focusing on the immediate task ahead in Week 3.
"The biggest thing is us going and taking care of Tampa right now," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. "We have a big week ahead of us."
Payton previously said that while the trip is not “make or break” for the season, it can provide a “better idea” of where the team is going to be after the two weeks. Several players have embraced this mindset and are eager to take advantage of the change-of-pace opportunity.
"I think this week is crucial because we have two tough opponents on the road," Surtain said. "Being able to set our sights away from things out here and go to different scenery [and] a different landscape will definitely change the mindset. So, I'm looking forward to it."
Denver's main priority this week, however, remains a Week 3 meeting with the Buccaneers.
"The focus obviously starts with the first trip, and then we go from there," Payton said.
