The Denver Broncos placed punter Marquette King on injured reserve Saturday, the Denver Post reported.
The move came one day after King had been listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets because of a right thigh injury.
Colby Wadman, who was signed to Denver’s practice squad on Sept. 25, will be promoted to the active roster and start against the Jets, the newspaper reported, citing a source.
“Very high confidence (in Wadman),” Broncos special teams coordinator Tom McMahon told the Post after practice Friday. “He does a great job hanging the ball up, (is a) good directional punter and I like his mindset.”
The injury to King apparently occurred during Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, one week after head coach Vance Joseph called him out for a poor performance. Joseph said he didn’t believe King’s injury affected his punting.
King, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders out of Fort Valley State in 2012, led the NFL in punting yardage in 2014 and was selected second-team All-Pro in 2016.
In 2016, the Raiders signed King to a five-year, $16.50 million extension with $12.50 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $250,000, but this year he reportedly clashed with new head coach Jon Gruden and was released in March.
King signed with the Broncos in April. After averaging 46.8 yards per punt in his career, he is at 44.1 in four games this season, including 41.0 in each of the last two games.
