INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz exited Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers because of concern about chest tightness and an elevated heart rate, a source told The Denver Post on Sunday.
Meinerz was transported to a local hospital and is set to remain in the Los Angeles area overnight for observation rather than traveling back to Denver on the team’s charter flight Sunday night, the source said. The indication is that those decisions were made mostly as a precaution.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said he had no update on Meinerz or others who were injured during the game and added, “I’ll never talk to you about injuries after a game. But I’ll keep you posted, though.”
Payton only added that Meinerz was not ill before the game.
“Our training staff, starting with Beau (Lowery) and Vince (Garcia) do a great job making sure everybody’s OK,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “From my understanding, (Meinerz) will be alright.”
The third-year guard is in the midst of his best season as a professional. He missed a handful of snaps due to a shoulder injury against Houston last week but otherwise has been healthy this year.
“It’s tough losing Quinn. That’s, in my opinion, the heart and soul of our line,” center Lloyd Cushenberry said. “We’re going to miss him if he has to be out.”
Second-year man Luke Wattenberg, a fifth-round draft pick in 2022, replaced Meinerz in Denver’s lineup.
Wattenberg played spot duty last year and struggled, but has worked his way back to being in Denver’s top reserve mix at the three interior positions up front.
“Luke came up big, man,” Cushenberry said. “He can play both center and guard. He’s so versatile. His confidence has continued to rise. Last year was tough on all of us, but we just continue to work and he’s just continued to work and his confidence has continued to grow and grow. The sky’s the limit for Luke.”
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