Denver's Sports Teams Face Early 2026 Struggles

Denver's sports scene is off to a bumpy start in 2026. The Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets are both dealing with injuries to key players, which could impact their seasons. The Avalanche have placed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood on injured reserve with a lower body injury. Blackwood had been playing well, posting an 8-1-0 record in December with a 2. 13 Goals Against Average and a 92. 3% save rate. His absence is a blow to the team, especially as they face a tough road trip. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are dealing with injuries to Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas. Jokic suffered a knee injury in Miami, and Valanciunas strained his calf in Toronto. With both players out, the Nuggets' center options are now DeRon Holmes II and Zeke Nnaji.The Broncos are also facing challenges. Quarterback Bo Nix might need extra security after a series of setbacks. The team is hoping to make it to Santa Clara in one piece for their next game. Despite these struggles, there is some good news. The Colorado State University (CSU) Rams' women's basketball team is off to a strong start. They finished December with a 61-47 win over Grand Canyon, improving to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in Mountain West play. The Rams have won 12 straight away games dating back to last season. It's been a mixed bag for Denver sports fans so far in 2026. While there have been some setbacks, there have also been bright spots. Fans will be hoping for a turnaround soon.