Nate Irving Injury: Updates on Broncos LB's Knee and Return

Updates from Friday, Nov. 14

Mike Klis of The Denver Post has the latest on Irving:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 13

Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com provides an update on Nate Irving's status:

Updates from Friday, Nov. 7

Broncos.com columnist Andrew Mason has the latest on Irving:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 3

Jeff Legwold and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Nate Irving's status following his injury in Week 9:

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The initial diagnosis for Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Irving is that he has a sprained MCL that is not considered season-ending, but he will still undergo more testing, sources told ESPN.

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Mike Klis of The Denver Post reported on Irving's timeline for return to the Broncos' lineup:

Original Text

Just when the Denver Broncos thought it couldn't get worse against the New England Patriots in Week 9, they lose linebacker Nate Irving.   

The team announced via Twitter that the 26-year-old suffered a knee injury:

Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com reported that Irving exited on a cart, which is generally a bad sign:

After the Broncos' loss, Troy Renck of The Denver Post provided an update: 

Mike Klis of The Denver Post provided further details on the nature of the injury:

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Nate Irving suffered a serious right knee injury in the second half of the Broncos' loss to New England. He will have a magnetic resonance imaging test on Monday back in Denver, but there is fear Irving suffered some form of ligament damage.

"I don't remember how it happened," Irving said as he hobbled out of the Gillette Stadium visitor's locker room on crutches. "Not a good break. Not a good day."

Irving's knee was in such severe pain that several members of the Broncos' medical team had to help him get dressed.

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Coming into the game, Irving ranked second on the team in combined tackles with 42. He's in the midst of a career year, so the injury couldn't have come at a worse time for him and the team.

This would also have a big impact on a defense that was thoroughly humbled by the Pats. As good as Peyton Manning and the Denver offense is, the defense will determine the Broncos' fate this year.

Losing Irving to a long-term injury wouldn't bode well for Denver going forward. His absence wouldn't completely derail the team's Super Bowl chances, but it would make getting there again that much harder.