ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Yet again the Denver Broncos have reached the halfway point of season unable to consistently keep the same lineup in the offensive line.

It was an issue in the team’s Super Bowl season in 2015, was an issue last season, and it is certainly an issue now. And a glimpse at Wednesday’s practice made it clear there are plenty of question marks to be found with half a season still on the docket.

Right tackle Menelik Watson, who has dealt with a calf injury this season, went to injured reserve Wednesday after he suffered a torn tendon in his foot in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Also Wednesday center Matt Paradis, who despite offseason surgery on both of his hips has never missed a start, was held out of practice with a back injury, and right guard Ron Leary was held out of practice with an elbow injury.

That’s three of the opening-game starters up front who did not practice Wednesday as the Broncos prepare for their ninth game of the season. And Watson’s backup, Donald Stephenson, was limited in practice as he continues to recover from a calf injury. The Broncos once again added center Dillon Day, who has been on the their practice in each of the last two seasons, to their practice squad as insurance for Paradis.

Stephenson has been a gameday inactive for each of the last four games. Broncos coach Vance Joseph said Allen Barbre, who started in Watson’s place at right tackle in the Broncos’ Oct. 22 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, or Stephenson was the most likely candidate to start Sunday night against the New England Patriots.

The Broncos also signed tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, a former second-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2014. The 6-foot-7, 325-pound Kouandjio was easy to spot at Wednesday’s practice, but Joseph said he was uncertain Kouandjio would be ready to play by this weekend.

“He is a big guy, a talent, former second-round pick, a young guy," Joseph said. “Definitely worth bringing him in."

Joseph added the decision to move Watson to injured reserve was made because if he had surgery to repair the tendon, Watson’s season would be over and that if he tried to rehab the injury without surgery Joseph said it would be at least “six, seven weeks."

Asked if Watson, who now has not played more than 12 games in any of his five NFL seasons, would have surgery, Joseph said: “not sure, they’re both going to be long-term."