The Broncos have a new starting center and now a new backup center.

Denver on Friday plucked Sam Mustipher off the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad. He will serve as the backup to Alex Forsyth, who replaced Luke Wattenberg as the starter after he was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a shoulder injury.

Mustipher was with the Broncos during the offseason and was in training camp in 2024. Since 2020, Mustipher has played in 64 NFL games, starting 43. With Denver battling the Chargers for the AFC West title, Mustipher had been on their practice squad since Oct. 2. He played in 12 games for the Chargers last season, with one start.

To make room on the roster for Mustipher, the Broncos waived guard Calvin Throckmorton. If he clears waivers, Throckmorton is expected to re-sign with Denver’s practice squad.

Throckmorton was signed off Denver’s practice squad on Thursday to the 53-man roster. He was available as the emergency backup center behind Forsyth in the Broncos’ 20-13 win at Kansas City on Thursday night, but wasn’t needed in that role.

Also Friday, running back Cody Schrader cleared waivers after being let go Thursday by the Broncos. He is a candidate to re-sign to their practice squad.

The Broncos have three openings on their practice squad.

Broncos could clinch division Saturday

The Broncos could clinch the AFC West title on Saturday without taking the field.

If the Chargers (11-4) lose or tie against Houston at home, Denver (13-3) would win its first division title since 2015.

“I don’t care however we get it done,’’ said guard Quinn Meinerz. “My feet will be up (watching the game).”

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said it would be “dope” to clinch Saturday and said he will be “tuning in for sure.” Head coach Sean Payton said, “It will be relaxing watching the game.”

Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian said he will be “cheering for the Texans” on Saturday. But he stressed the importance of Denver’s regular-season finale against the Chargers on Jan. 3 or 4, regardless of their outcome against Houston.

“We got to play them guys anyway in order to get that one seed,’’ McMillian said. “We still have to beat them.”

A win over the Chargers in Week 18 would assure Denver of getting the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race. There is a long-shot scenario in which the Broncos could clinch the No. 1 seed this weekend and a long-shot scenario in which they could claim it if the Chargers lose to the Texans but then win at Denver.

Bonitto’s slipping sack total

Bonitto had eight sacks in the first six games this season but has just 4.5 in the past 10 games. Yet he isn’t concerned.

“The sacks are great and stuff like that but I want to win a lot more than just getting a bunch of sacks,’’ he said.

Bonitto said he follows the rush plan each game designed by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The Broncos had just one sack Thursday of Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun, but the plan was to mostly cage him in to prevent him from finding an open running lane.

“I’m just trying to rush the right way,’’ Bonitto said. “I’m trying to make sure we’re doing the things to hold the quarterback in the pocket and open up stuff for other guys on the D-line. So you can’t get caught up too much in a sack here and a sack there. You just got to play ball and follow the rush plan every week.”

With 12.5 sacks, Bonitto is one sack shy of his career best of 13.5 set last season.

Briefly

Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers played just 11 of Denver’s 43 defensive snaps against the Chiefs. A source said Franklin-Myers had an issue with a hip flexor during the week but should be at full strength for the regular-season finale against the Chargers. … In his second game back after missing nine games following biceps surgery, Broncos left guard Ben Powers played 41 snaps in a reserve role while Alex Palczewski played 31 snaps after starting. That could be an indication that Powers will return to his starting role against the Chargers. Palczewski got the nod when Powers was out and in both games in which he has been eased back into action. … The Broncos gave up 139 yards to the Chiefs on Thursday, their third-lowest total of the season. They now rank third in the NFL in both scoring and total defense.