In 2022, the Denver Broncos just could not stay healthy. Honestly, that sentence could fit for a handful of years as of late. But, in 2022, they lost one of their more crucial pieces. Of course, this was the first year with Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett was the head coach, so those two things were factors in the madness as well.
However, what happened to their best offensive lineman, Garett Bolles, was just brutal. In a game against the Indianapolis Colts, which saw the Broncos lose on Thursday Night Football 12-9, Bolles broke his leg, and it was a pretty scary injury. At the time the media were being told there was significant damage, and that he would need surgery and his season would be over.
Last season when he came back, he wasn't quite as good as he had been previously. He had good moments, but bad ones as well. However, now it seems he is really starting to find his stride. In fact, against the New Orleans Saints pass rush, which consisted of Chase Young and Cam Jordan on the edges, he was stellar.
You could say it was some of the best football he has played in his career. Here is what Amazon Next Gen Stats says about the game he had on Thursday Night Football this time around:
Broncos LT Garett Bolles allowed two pressures on 34 pass-blocking snaps (5.9%), his fifth consecutive game allowing two or fewer pressures and 0 sacks. Bolles allowed just one pressure on 20 matchups (5.0%) against Chase Young, which occurred in 4.4 seconds.
Bolles, drafted in 2017, has been somewhat of a steady hand for the Broncos. He hasn't been otherwordly, but he hasn't been terrible. You have pretty much known what you're going to get from him every year, every game. But this game was different.
There is a clip of Bolles throwing Young to the side that is one of the funniest things you will see in some time. And, based on how you grade pressures, one could even say Bolles had zero pressures allowed. He was that good.
After a brutal injury like the one he had, I'd say it's not common to come back better than you were before. It's not impossible, but it's certainly not the common thing you see around the league.
Next, he will have to deal with the Carolina Panthers pass rush, which isn't as great, and then the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, who have great pass rush units.
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