The Denver Broncos are getting one of their best players back for the second half of the regular season. One week after returning to practice, pass-rusher Bradley Chubb has been activated off of injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. The Pro Bowl pass-rusher was forced to undergo arthroscopic ankle surgery to repair an injury aggravated in Denver's Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded one tackle in 19 defensive snaps.
"I did everything I could to manage it and to try to come back and play," Chubb said, per the Broncos' official website. "I took the New York week ... trying to calm it down just a little bit, and then this Jacksonville week I tried to do everything to get back on the field, and unfortunately, all those things weren't working in my favor. The thing (to do) is now just to go in, clean it up and be right back."
This is welcomed news for a Broncos team that just traded away Von Miller a few weeks ago. The defense's performances have been up and down over the past few weeks. After scoring an upset victory over the Cowboys in Dallas in Week 9, Denver fell flat against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles two Sundays ago. Chubb recorded 42 combined tackles and 7.5 sacks in 14 games played last season, as he earned his first Pro Bowl honors. The former No. 5 overall pick burst onto the scene as a rookie with 12 sacks, but missed 12 games in 2019 due to an ACL tear.
After a 3-0 start, the Broncos are 5-5 and in last place in the AFC West division standings. On Sunday, Denver will face a Los Angeles team that is 6-4 and in second place in the West following last week's 41-37 win over the Steelers. Sunday is the first of two games this season after the two division rivals.
