Broncos placed LB Joe Mays (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Mays sustained a fracture while blocking on a punt return in Sunday night's win over the Saints. The $12 million middle linebacker had been relegated to special teams since losing his starting job to veteran Keith Brooking. Mays' third season in Denver ends with 20 tackles and a half-sack.

Broncos MLB Joe Mays is out for the season after breaking his leg against the Saints in Week 8.

Mays went down while blocking on a punt return in the fourth quarter. He's been diagnosed with a fractured fibula near his ankle. After opening the season as the Broncos' starting middle linebacker, he fell behind Keith Brooking and was relegated to special teams in the last two games.

The NFL has upheld Broncos MLB Joe Mays' one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Matt Schaub.

Mays will miss this week's game against Oakland, which is welcome news for Darren McFadden. Wesley Woodyard and Keith Brooking, previously splitting time at weak-side linebacker could be stretched into three-down players along with Von Miller. Top reserve Nate Irving sustained a concussion in Week 3, leaving Danny Trevathan and Steven Johnson as the alternatives.

The NFL is considering suspending Broncos MLB Joe Mays one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit of Matt Schaub in Week 3.

Mays will "at the very least" receive a fine for the illegal shot. Schaub suffered a mild shoulder injury and lost part of his earlobe in Sunday's victory, but emerged fine to play in Week 4. If Mays had to miss Week 4 against the Raiders, the Broncos might turn to UDFA Steve Johnson at middle linebacker.

MLB Joe Mays' new deal with the Broncos is worth $12 million over three seasons, and includes $4 million guaranteed.

It's essentially a one-year deal. A run-stopping specialist, Mays played 653 snaps in 2011, making 75 tackles. He'll compete for playing time this season with 2011 third-round pick Nate Irving, and figures to be a poor option in IDP leagues.

Broncos re-signed MLB Joe Mays.

A two-down inside linebacker, Mays ranked third on the Broncos in tackles last season. While he can't cover a lick and possesses little value outside of thumping versus the run, Mays' return should be a plus if Denver can find capable defensive tackles to keep blockers off him at the second level. Mays will also have to compete with 2011 third-round pick Nate Irving for playing time. Expect that to be a heated camp battle in Denver.

Free agent MLB Joe Mays will meet with the Colts after his visit with the Saints.

Mays appears to be on his way out of Denver. The Colts have a big hole at middle linebacker after releasing Gary Brackett.

Free agent MLB Joe Mays will reportedly visit the Saints.

Mays joins David Hawthorne, who also has plenty of experience at middle linebacker, in visiting the Big Easy. The Saints need depth with Jonathan Vilma looking at an NFL suspension or Saints release.

Joe Mays is locked in as the Broncos' starting middle linebacker.

Mays is a two-down thumper that figures to see plenty of chances behind the Broncos' leaky interior line. With third-round rookie Nate Irving missing time due to an ankle injury, Mays has some leash. He had 35 tackles in five starts a year ago.

The Denver Post calls holdover LB Joe Mays the "odds-on favorite" to open this season as the Broncos' starting middle linebacker.

The Post's theory is that rookie Nate Irving won't have enough time to beat out Mays without offseason workouts. Mays has been in the league, but it isn't like he has a great grasp on the Broncos' new defense, either. Irving was hand-picked by the new regime in Denver and should win the job sooner than later.

Coach John Fox said on a conference call with fans Monday that Joe Mays is the Broncos' starting middle linebacker as of this moment.

Fox confirmed that top-70 pick Nate Irving is Mays' competition, and there's little doubt the rookie will win. Fox has long been an advocate of highly athletic middle 'backers, from Will Witherspoon to Dan Morgan to Jon Beason. Irving fits that mold much better than Mays, who's a slow-moving thumper.

Broncos placed ILB Joe Mays (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Mays finishes his first year in a 3-4 defense with a career-high 40 tackles. Though he's never going to be more than a two-down thumper, Mays showed plenty of ability as an interior run stopper when given an extended chance to play next to D.J. Williams. The 25-year-old is under contract cheaply through 2011 and should get a long look for a starting job.

Broncos ILB Joe Mays suffered a knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs.

The Broncos are getting thin at inside linebacker as stalwart D.J. Williams (elbow) also went down yesterday. Mays has 40 tackles while playing in all 12 games this season.

Broncos acquired ILB Joe Mays from the Eagles in exchange for RB J.J. Arrington.

For once, we like the Broncos' side better. A thumper out of North Dakota State, Mays' lack of quality range will be less of a drawback in Denver's 3-4 scheme. Mays' ideal position in the Broncos' system would be "Ted" linebacker, where converted OLB Mario Haggan is currently slated to start.

Joe Mays and Omar Gaither are battling to be the Eagles' backup middle linebacker.

Both players failed at the gig after starter Stewart Bradley went down in the preseason. The Eagles addressed the linebacker spot during the offseason by trading for Ernie Sims and drafting Keenan Clayton. Mays may have to impress on special teams to make the squad if he can't rise up and beat out Gaither.