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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterSep 29, 2024, 02:17 PM ET
- Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie left Sunday’s game strapped to a backboard, but head coach Sean Payton refused to offer any clarity on his status after the team’s 10-9 win at MetLife Stadium.
Badie was placed on a backboard by medical personnel on the Broncos’ sideline as the first quarter drew to a close. He was then taken to the locker room on a cart at the start of the second quarter as the Jets offense and the Broncos defense were set to begin the quarter.
The Broncos said Badie had suffered a back injury and after initially saying he was questionable to return to the game, Badie was quickly downgraded to “out” following further examination.
It was also unclear if Badie had suffered any concussion symptoms as well on the play after his helmet struck the ground after the tackle.
Asked after the game if Badie would return to Denver with the rest of the team instead of remaining in the area for additional evaluation, Payton said: “No update on Tyler.”
Asked if Badie would be on the team’s flight Sunday night, Payton repeated “no update.”
Several minutes later when asked again, Payton said “I don’t want to discuss injury” and added “we’ll see” about whether or not Badie would return to Denver on Sunday night.
Running back Javonte Williams, who stood next to Badie as Badie was strapped to the backboard, said after the game running backs coach Lou Ayeni told the group Badie “would be alright, but we know Tyler is a fighter, I just saw him on the ground and went to see how he was.”
On a reception for minus-4 yards on the Broncos’ last play of the first quarter, Jets linebacker Quincy Williams tackled Badie and his helmet struck the running back in the lower back, causing Badie to fumble the ball. Badie then fell to the turf face down as he initially tried to scramble to recover the ball.
Badie walked to the bench after the play with his hand on his lower back. Once in the bench area, Broncos medical personnel had Badie lay down on a backboard and strapped him in before he was taken off in a cart.
Badie, who spent all of the 2023 season and the first three weeks of the regular season on the Broncos’ practice squad, had been promoted to the active roster this week. He entered the game with 86 yards on 10 carries.
