Broncos WR Jalen Virgil needs surgery for meniscus injury
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Jalen Virgil is likely miss substantial time due to a meniscus injury to his knee, mulitiple sources confirmed to The Post on Sunday afternoon.
Virgil, a source said, is seeking a second opinion on surgical options before finalizing his course forward.
Dr. Clint Soppe, an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, said the recovery timeline for meniscus surgery can range anywhere from 4-6 weeks if the meniscus is trimmed or 4-6 months for a repair. The latter timeline would put Virgil’s entire 2023 season in jeopardy.
Virgil, the second-year Broncos wide receiver, was injured late in the first half Saturday against San Francisco after hauling in a 50-yard reception from quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Virgil was tackled near the goal line and popped up after the play, only to grab at his knee following the play.
After Denver was ruled to have run out of time trying to spike the ball, Virgil was taken to the locker room at halftime via a cart.
A 2022 undrafted rookie out of of Appalachian State, Virgil was vying for a roster spot amid a receiver group that remains crowded but has been thinned out by injuries to Tim Patrick (torn Achilles) and KJ Hamler (pectoral tear and a heart condition).
Virgil’s calling card is his speed. His first career catch last fall went for a 66-yard touchdown and Saturday he got open for the big gain on a slick double-move.
If the Broncos place Virgil on injured reserve before the regular season begins, he’ll have to miss the entire season. In order to bring him back off of injured reserve this year, they have to carry him on the 53-man roster for at least a day after the Aug. 29 cutdown from 90 players to 53.
They could also waive him with an injury designation, come to an injury settlement and then re-sign him when he gets healthy, though they would risk another team claiming him off of waivers.
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