Broncos LT Garett Bolles suffered contusion in Week 1 loss: ‘Good news there’

The Broncos avoided a major injury scare in their season-opening loss to the Seahawks.

Starting left tackle Garett Bolles left the game Sunday early in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury. He was replaced by reserve tackle Matt Peart for the team’s final two offensive possessions. Bolles did not return.

Coach Sean Payton was optimistic about Bolles when asked by reporters in Seattle after the game. He confirmed a positive outcome on a Monday morning conference call with local media — with one caveat moving forward.

“How about this being the first Monday morning presser where we’ll discuss an injury, but then we’re never going to discuss it again?” Payton said. “All the X-rays were negative. Good news there. MRIs were negative. Obviously, there’s a contusion. That’s what I know, and that’s a positive.”

Defensive rebound

The Broncos gave up a 13-9 halftime lead with a disastrous third quarter in Seattle. The Seahawks scored 10 points behind a surge from running back Kenneth Walker III. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach explained what went wrong on the Monday conference call.

“You knew they were going to make adjustments and do different things when they came out," Roach said. "I feel like in that third quarter we didn’t have the same intensity and that same laser-like focus. We’ve got to use that as a learning experience with Pittsburgh coming here (in Week 2). … We can’t get too high and can’t get too down.”

Aldridge Jr. passes away

Former Broncos linebacker Allen Aldridge Jr. — a starter on the Super Bowl XXXII championship team — has died, according to media reports.

He was 52. The cause of death was not immediately made available.

Aldridge spent the past 15 years as head coach of Fort Bend Bush High School outside Houston. He died unexpectedly overnight Sunday, according to Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

The Broncos selected Aldridge in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft out of the University of Houston. He started in 45 games over four seasons in Denver, including all four playoff games when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl. Aldridge posted 11 tackles and recovered a fumble on that postseason run.

Aldridge also played four NFL seasons with the Lions (1998-01).

Opponent watch: Steelers

Which Steelers quarterback will start against the Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field? Coach Mike Tomlin told Pittsburgh media to ask him again on Tuesday.

Justin Fields got the nod in Week 1 after former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was inactive with a calf issue. Tomlin had named Wilson the regular season starter prior to injury. But Fields earned a positive Steelers review on Sunday in an 18-10 win over the Falcons.

“He's not overly talkative, but he's got steady, strong demeanor,” Tomlin said in his postgame remarks. “Just being in the stadium with him, some of the things I've seen through team development were confirmed.”