Looking for good health in their holiday stocking, these Broncos have instead received a resounding heap of coal. On Thursday, the organization placed starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve, a major blow to the offensive front as Denver marches into the playoffs. Wattenberg has started all 15 games for the Broncos as the man in the middle this season, but landed on this week’s injury report with a sudden shoulder injury and wasn’t present at Tuesday’s walkthrough. The IR placement means Wattenberg will miss a minimum of four games, making him ineligible to return until at least the AFC conference championship game — if the Broncos advance that far — on Jan. 25. Wattenberg signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Broncos in late November for his efforts snapping quarterback Bo Nix the ball for the last two seasons in Denver. He’s allowed just 13 pressures in 1,006 pass-blocking snaps this year (according to Pro Football Focus), and improved as a run-blocker after an offseason emphasis with assistant offensive-line coach Chris Morgan. “Good, young player, and it’s important to keep those guys in your building,” head coach Sean Payton told reporters after Wattenberg’s extension. “I’ve been in the position where you are trying to draft a center and it’s one of those unique positions. If you say in the draft, ‘We’re going to draft a center that we feel like can start Year 1,’ that becomes difficult.” Related Articles Broncos vs. Chiefs: Live updates and highlights from the…
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