Report: Running back Mike Boone is out 4 to 6 weeks with a quad injury

The Broncos running back depth takes a hit.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, running back Mike Boone who was carted off the practice field during yesterday’s scrimmage is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks of action. He will avoid surgery and the worst-case scenario, but still a tough blow to Boone who was having a strong camp.

During yesterday’s practice, Boone was running towards the end zone when he immediately pulled up and grabbed the back of his leg. The fear was a fully torn hamstring or something serious along those lines considering he was carted off, but thankfully it was “minor” considering what it could have been.

Boone was enjoying a strong camp and was the Broncos’ most explosive and quickest running back on the roster. He was earning himself some carries in the rotation in the backfield and of course a major role on special teams. However, those plans will have to be put on hold for the next month, month and a half.

While this sucks for Boone, it does give some life to running back Royce Freeman who was the forgotten man in the team’s backfield. He will likely get plenty of carries tomorrow night vs. the Vikings and likely a fair share in the other team preseason games as well.

After yesterday’s practice, Head Coach Vic Fangio spoke about Freeman and told reporters that Freeman has had a good camp and that he felt good about their depth at the position.

“Yeah, Royce has had a good camp. I think he’s—obviously he knows what to do, he’s a very smart football player. It’s his second year in this system and Royce is a really good back, and he’s definitely an NFL quality back. We’re happy to have the amount of backs that we have. We have a good crew of running backs.”

After likely co-starters Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, the Broncos have Royce Freeman, second-year running back LeVante Bellamy, and Damarea Crockett rounding out the group. I wouldn’t be shocked if they added another body to his group and potentially an outside addition after cuts have concluded.

Boone likely will miss most, if not all of September as he works back from a quad injury so a reliable back who can contribute on special teams likely jumps near the top of the team’s wish list during that period of time. Until then, the remaining other three backs have a golden opportunity to play themselves on to the week one roster.