ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Nose tackle Domata Peko's consecutive gamea streak, the longest active streak among defensive linemen in the NFL, will come to an end Sunday.
Peko, who left last Sunday’s loss in Oakland with a sprained knee, was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Peko had played, and started, 123 consecutive games.
“That’s tough," Joseph said after Friday's practice. “One twenty three straight, for a defensive lineman that’s amazing."
Peko last missed a game in 2009 when he did not play in five games for the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury. Before Sunday those five games have been the only games Peko has missed in his 12-year career.
“It’s been a good run, thank God for that," Peko said Friday. “Eight years of not missing a game, but it seems like all things come to an end. But (I'm) just going to work my tail off to get back, just got a little MCL sprain. I’m going to get back out there when my leg is ready, when I’m a 100 percent."
Peko said he tried to “jog around" some Friday, but that his knee didn’t feel stable. Peko signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract in the offseason and has been the presence in the middle of the defense the Broncos hoped he would be. He has 35 tackles to go with a sack in the first 11 games.
He will not make the trip to Florida for Sunday's game -- the Broncos will leave Friday and practice in the Miami area Saturday -- but will continue to work with some of the team's training staff at the Broncos' complex through the weekend.
“You can’t have a bad wheel out there," Peko said. “I’m very disappointed, but I’m also grateful I was able to put that streak together. That doesn’t happen very often ... 123, man, thank God for that."
