On Tuesday, the Broncos placed middle linebacker Joe Mays on injured reserve.
Mays suffered a left ankle injury last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Safety Duke Ihenacho was added to the active roster as the corresponding move.
“We’re going to miss Joe,” fellow linebacker Wesley Woodyard said Monday. “Things definitely won’t be the same without having him out there, his presence, his leadership and his ability to go out there and make plays.”
Mays started four games this season, chipping in 19 tackles and a half a sack.
Last year, Mays started a career-best 12 games, finishing third on the club with 74 tackles. He also tied for the most tackles on the team with 15 in his two postseason starts.
“He’s definitely going to be a player that we miss,” Woodyard reiterated. “He’s going to be there making sure he’s watching film for us to give us coaching points and what we can do better. We’re going to miss him on the field, but he’s going to always be around in the locker room talking to us.”
A hit on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub left Mays with a one-week suspension earlier this season, and he found himself out of the starting lineup for the last two games he played in 2012.
But Mays didn’t let that affect his demeanor in the locker room.
“He’s a tough guy mentally,” Woodyard said of Mays. “He didn’t get down on himself. He continued to pick his teammates up and that’s one thing that you look for as a good teammate. Throughout the tough times, are you going to be the same person or are you going to be a different person? He was sad, but he continued to work hard every day and came out here and pushed everybody else and that’s the big thing we were proud about.”
Linebacker Keith Brooking said the team hates to lose a “warrior” like Mays, and recalled missing a large chunk of his third season in the NFL. For that reason, he said he can relate with Mays’ plight.
“The main things are for him just to keep his head up, keep fighting, believing and don’t allow it to get him down,” he said. “More than anything, it’s just motivation for him to come back even better than he was before.”
With Mays officially out for the rest of the season, the rest of the linebackers know it’s on them to step up in his absence.
“Everybody plays their own part,” Woodyard said. “Von (Miller) plays his part, Keith plays his part, myself, Nate (Irving). Everybody steps up and everybody holds their own weight.”
Tags: Joe Mays, Keith Brooking, Linebackers, Wesley Woodyard
BUMMER!!! I love you Mays! You are an Oldschool Junkyard Beast in a world full of Lap Dogs!!!
WOW, Joe will truely be missed. Seems like all the other players likes him to, not good. Maybe theirs someone out their we can pick up before the trade deadline thursday. Whats going on with knowshow lol, thought he would be on the blocks hence Ronnie Hillman starting to play verygoood.
I will miss the man but not so much the player. I really like Joe and I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that things improve for him. He is a beast on special teams for sure but not up to MLB. Honestly, there is a chance that mays could fit in very well as an ILB on a 3-4 team. Not so much as a MLB in a 4-3.
Either way, he is a great guy and good teammate and I wish him well.
I really don’t get all the trade talk. This team has what it needs right now. I get that DT and MLB and to a lesser extend RB are concerns. However, those are things that will be addressed in the offseason. I don’t see them as so bad that Denver needs to make some sort of trade move.
Grey, this was my prediction for San Diego
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/jsaccomano/a-player-to-savor/comment-page-1/#comment-461856
This was Saints game
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/denverbroncos/broncos-blog-scoring-contest-week-8/comment-page-1/#comment-463304
But now I know where to make my predictions, here I come LOL.
RH709, we still need to replace him either or rt. Not to change chemistry, but, to replace a linebacker and Knowshawn moreno should be traded IMO. I wouldnt mind haveing that running back from Carolyna or even steven jackson from the rams, bout time we get a big bruising back, like that boy from the Raiders.
Am I missing something on DJ Williams? Isn’t his 6-game suspension over? It seems he’s the best candidate to get back to work, replacing Mays.
Get well soon Mays! Keep working hard come back and get in the game. You are a team player and respected by your teamates which, i have a lot of respect for. I will take that rather than some problem child any day.
Ctom, he got 3 more games for some reason, wont get him back till the 10th game.
Not the biggest fan of mays but sucks he is gone. Man could lay a hit.
DJ might have to take over this role (if he ever returns) weakside LB in 4-3 by trade but by far our most versatile and experienced LB that has played every position in the 4-3 and 3-4 for us. Plus Woodyard has finally come into his own. Looks more like the rookie i saw in preseason many seasons ago. Got alot of catching up to do tho. For now the wiley vet Brooking is our best bet. What he lacks in speed he makes for in experience and play recognition. Middle LB is very cerebral.
Great Win. Go Broncos.
TRB