Broncos WR Pat Bryant Sidelined for 'A Few Weeks' After Ankle Sprain in San Francisco

The Denver Broncos' weekend trip to the Bay Area was already a miserable experience, and now the hangover is going to last a lot longer.

According to Adam Schefter, Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant sprained his ankle during Sunday’s 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The official timeline is "a few weeks," which is NFL speak for a month of cryptic practice reports.

"Adam Schefter reported Bryant is expected to miss 'a few weeks.'"

Losing a receiver is never ideal, but it stings a little more when your offense just spent three hours looking completely stuck in the mud. Denver only managed two touchdowns against the Niners, and taking Bryant out of the mix is not exactly going to fix the spacing.

For the fantasy managers and bettors trying to read the tea leaves, this is a clear downgrade for a passing attack that already looked shaky. You cannot just subtract a starting-caliber target and expect the offensive engine to run smoothly.

The Broncos now have to figure out how to patch together a passing game without him. It is the kind of roster puzzle that usually ends with a practice squad call-up running the wrong route on a crucial third down.

Denver will have to adjust its depth chart immediately to keep the offense afloat. Until Bryant's ankle heals up, expect the Broncos' upcoming game totals to reflect a unit that is suddenly missing a very important piece of the puzzle.