I know it’s only a preseason game, and I know the regular season is still two weeks away, and I know it’s a 16-game schedule—but Denver Broncos fans must have their fingers over the panic button right about now.

Given the storyline, this game offered rare value for a preseason contest. It’s not often that a franchise quarterback switches franchises in the prime of his youth. But that is what happened this offseason when new head coach Josh McDaniels shipped the Broncos’ franchise quarterback off to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton.

To top off that monster deal, the Broncos are now faced with an injured Orton, who injured the index finger on his throwing hand in the loss to the Bears on Sunday night. Backup QB Chris Simms is also on the shelf with a high ankle sprain and would not be ready to go in the season opener.

In addition, first round draft pick Knowshon Moreno is nursing an injury that also may have him out for the season opener, which will place the running game square on the shoulders of longtime Philadelphia running back Correll Buckhalter.

In the wide receiver department, things look no better for the Broncos. They have suspended Brandon Marshall, basically for not having his head screwed on straight, and Jabar Gaffney is nicked up.

The Denver starting lineup on opening day could possibly go something like this:

QB—Tom Brandstater
RB—Correll Buckhalter
WR—Brandon Stokley (not bad though)
WR—Chad Jackson
WR—Nate Swift

Now after the preseason game Sunday night against the Bears, where Chicago and new franchise quarterback Jay Cutler (courtesy of McDaniels and the Broncos) came into their yard and did them up, the Broncos have all the injuries to starters and playmakers staring them square in the face two weeks before the season opener—leaving, I’m sure, many Denver fans thinking, “What next?”

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Sponsored Links

Buy Denver Broncos Tickets, NFL Tickets, Football Tickets and Sports Tickets at StubPass.com.

BroncosZone Latest

• The Denver Broncos Must Face Their New Reality
• Denver Broncos: The Beginning of a New Era, Or The Beginning of the End?
• Hey Denver, Where’s the Love for Josh McDaniels?
• Josh McDaniels Is the Poster Boy for “Too Much, Too Soon”
• Denver Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall: “I Love Being a Bronco”