Meinerz, nicknamed “The Belly”, is a 2021 third-rounder who is now one of the top-five paid guards in the NFL. The extension includes $45 million guaranteed with $24 million in the first year of the deal. At 25-years-old, Meinerz has started every game he has played each of the last two seasons. Last season, he allowed just two sacks and posted an 83.7 PFF grade, ranking as one of the top run blockers in the league. Meinerz is now locked in for the future of the Broncos offensive line at right guard.

Meinerz was hospitalized less than a week ago after leaving Week 14’s contest against the Rams with an elevated heart rate. Despite the scare, the third-year guard is expected to return in Week 15 and will return to his role as the team’s starting right guard.

Meinerz exited in the first half of Sunday’s game and didn’t return to the field. According to an article on ESPN by Jeff Legwold, Meinerz “told team trainers late in the first half that he was experiencing chest tightness and felt like he had an elevated heart rate.” The medical staff opted to transport him to a local hospital, where he stayed overnight out of precaution. Meinerz is reportedly “feeling better” and will return to Denver on Monday if he does not experience any additional symptoms.

He was reportedly poked in the eye to the point that he saw a specialist off-site. Meinerz could very well be sidelined for a bit. Having already lost time on IR to a hamstring, he was starting his 10th game of the season. Tom Compton replaced him.