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| Hunter likely will be placed on the IR list. (Getty) |
For the third time in the past three years, an important Broncos defensive lineman is likely to miss the entire season based on a training camp injury. In 2010, it was Elvis Dumervil and his torn pectoral, and last season, it was Ty Warren’s torn triceps.
This year, it’s Jason Hunter, the projected starter at defensive end, who had surgery for a torn triceps Wednesday and is likely to miss four months.
Hunter had done well enough to earn his No. 1 spot in the past two weeks, but now that he’s done, second-round pick Derek Wolfe could take over his starting role (though Rapid Reporter Andrew Mason notes that the simple move would be to relocate Robert Ayers back into the starting role he gave away to Hunter).
Theoretically, Hunter could return by mid-December if he hits that four-month recovery mark, but the Denver Post writes that Hunter probably will be placed on the IR list.
"They said it was like 95 percent torn," Hunter said Wednesday. "They told me mine was hanging on like a piece of rope. I don't want to count myself completely out even though I know the severity of my injury. But I'm going to let the team coach me up on this and wait until they tell me what the next step is."
Since joining the Broncos two years ago, Hunter has started 14 of 31 games and accumulated four combined sacks.
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