ENGLEWOOD — Bradley Roby didn’t have the best timing to call in sick. Or not call in sick.
A starting Broncos cornerback, Roby had a rough game Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. He then didn’t show up Monday for team meetings at Broncos headquarters.
As it turns out, Roby was sick, and he was seen by Broncos trainers later in the day Monday. However, it does appear he should have communicated better with his coaches. Normal protocol for players under the weather is to show up at the team’s facility and then be sent home sick by the medical staff.
All this after Roby mishaps helped the Jets score their first three touchdowns in a 34-16 victory against the Broncos. He missed a tackle on running back Isaiah Crowell’s 77-yard touchdown run, then was beat by Jets’ receiver Robby Anderson on touchdown receptions of 76 and 35 yards.
Altitude factor
As it stands now, the biggest game of the NFL season will pit the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs against the undefeated Los Angeles Rams at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Nov. 19.
Because the elevation of Azteca Stadium is 7,280 feet, the Chiefs and the Rams each requested from the NFL schedule makers to play the Broncos at Mile High’s 5,280-foot elevation the week before the two sides matched up in Mexico City.
The league didn't want to give one team the advantage over the other, so the Broncos wound up hosting the Chiefs and Rams in back-to-back home games in early October. The Broncos play the Rams this Sunday in Denver with snow in the 9News forecast.
Johnson faces NFL discipline
Broncos rookie linebacker Alexander Johnson, who has been inactive through the first five games this season, could face league discipline after he pled guilty to marijuana possession and failure to exercise due care while driving, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel The driving incident occurred in July 2017.
In exchange for the guilty pleas, a DUI and violation of implied consent charges were dropped by a Knoxville, Tenn. courtroom.
The plea, however, often triggers a suspension from the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy.
Johnson was acquitted of rape charges by a Knox County jury this past July and was signed by the Broncos to a three-year contract that paid him a $50,000 signing bonus, plus a $480,000 salary this season.
