ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -Center Tom Nalen, the last link to the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl titles of the late 1990s, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
The 37-year-old Nalen underwent two surgeries on his left knee this summer and missed the team’s first three games. The Broncos had left him on the roster hoping for his quick return.
The 15-year veteran, whose 2007 season was cut short by a torn right biceps after five games, missed most of training camp before deciding on another operation.
Nalen, whose five Pro Bowls are the most for a Broncos lineman, has helped Denver to the most rushing yards and the third-fewest sacks in the NFL since 1995.
His slow recovery has made center Casey Wiegmann the Broncos’ most important free agent signing.
Wiegmann, in his 13th NFL season, spent the past seven seasons with AFC West rival Kansas City. He has started 114 consecutive games in the regular season, the longest active streak among NFL centers.
out of Boston College in 1994, and he was a member of the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1997 and ’98.
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