Report: Broncos LB Barrett out 2-3 months or longer with hip injury

Only one day into the Denver Broncos second week of OTAs, and the club’s already potentially dealing with its first major injury of the 2017 season.

Fourth-year pro Shaquil Barrett, among an already thin outside linebacker group, missed practice on Tuesday as he was being evaluated for a hip injury, head coach Vance Joseph said.

Joseph said Barrett’s injury wasn’t a lingering one and the team is still in “the early stages” of determining the seriousness of the injury.

“We should know more in a weeks’ time. That’s where he is,” Joseph said Tuesday after practice.

However, Mike Klis of 9News reports Barrett’s injury could be more serious than originally anticipated, leaving the linebacker sidelined possibly beyond training camp.

Shaq Barrett out at least two, three months with hip injury caused from non-team workout https://t.co/2q7D5jKhqZ via @9NEWS #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) May 30, 2017

According to Klis, Barrett will receive further evaluation from a hip specialist in Vail, wherein the extent of the injury and if it will require surgery will be determined.

Barrett, who turns 25 on Nov. 17, joined the Broncos as an undrafted college free agent out of Colorado State in 2014.

After keeping Barrett on the practice squad for much of the 2014 season, Denver signed the linebacker to its active roster in January 2015. He would start six games for the Broncos that following season, earning 5 ½ sacks for the NFL’s top-ranked defense on the way to a Super Bowl 50 victory.

Last season, Barrett played in 16 games but did not start in any of them. He garnered 1 ½ sacks and 20 tackles, along with two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

The loss of Barrett is a blow to an already thin linebacker group in terms of depth, especially following the retirement of DeMarcus Ware earlier this offseason.

Behind starters, Shane Ray and Von Miller are three players — Vontarrius Dora, Ken Ekanem, and Deon Hollins — with a combined one-year experience at the NFL level.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.