Indeed it's a savage blow.
Shane Ray, "The Stingray," was given a great honor when Denver pulled the Missouri star from the bin of washed-out college stars and drafted him No. 1 despite his arrest for la marijuana.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Yes, he was groomed to replace DeMarcus Ware as a fierce quarterback hunter intent on mayhem and dismemberment.
However, Ray will amount to a lot of nothing if he doesn't play and missing valuable practice time is no way to start the season.
Denver needs Ray.
Ray needs to play.
Otherwise he'll become as valueless as CJ Anderson who stubbed his big toe and never recovered. Meanwhile, Devontae Booker, who led the Broncos with 612 yards rushing in 2016, has not amounted to much and he, too, will miss practice time.
Denver's defense, once preening with self-confidence, is now bereft of a transcendent defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, and is missing Shaquil Barrett, who underperformed in 2016.
With Ray missing it falls to others to carry the load.
How shameful.