With five stitches over his left eye, Calvin Throckmorton is looking these days like a battle-worn boxer.

During a melee at practice last Tuesday, the Broncos offensive lineman got trapped underneath the pile. He left the field with blood on his face to get stitched up.

“It was the usual scrum with bodies flying in there,’’ Throckmorton, not sure exactly how he got cut, told The Denver Gazette. “I knew pretty quickly I was going to need some stitches. Obviously, I wish it didn’t happen but sometimes football is football and those things happen.”

Throckmorton, a seven-year veteran, might be willing to accept a few extra scars if it means he is playing more for Denver. Since joining the Broncos in 2024, Throckmorton has gotten into just 12 regular-season games the past two seasons, playing 40 snaps on offense and 53 on special teams as a guard.

But the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Throckmorton has played a valuable role for Denver in the first two preseason games. With starting center Luke Wattenberg and backup Alex Forsyth sidelined with injuries, Throckmorton has started both games. He got in for 37 center snaps in a 27-7 win at Atlanta on Aug. 14 and for 23 in Friday’s 33-13 loss to Green Bay at Empower Field.

Throckmorton actually was Denver’s No. 4 center when training camp got underway, but third-stringer Michael Dieter was lost for the season when he suffered a quad injury in an Aug. 11 practice. Until taking the field against the Falcons, Throckmorton had never played center in an NFL preseason or regular-season game.

“It’s been fun,’’ Throckmorton said. “It’s been great to have the opportunity to show my flexibility to continue to improve and develop at that position as well as guard. I’ve been trying to take it in stride and try to get better every day.”

Throckmorton did play a good bit at center during training camp with New Orleans in 2021, and it certainly helped that the head coach then was Sean Payton. Now with Denver, Payton said Throckmorton’s versatility has “helped him play as long as he’s played” in the NFL.

Wattenberg is expected to be ready for the Broncos’ regular-season opener Sept. 14 at Kansas City while Forsyth’s situation seems less clear. Regardless, with Throckmorton on the bubble to make the opening roster, his ability to also play center certainly doesn’t hurt his cause.

“You would think so, but obviously (the Broncos have) got their own evaluations and seeing what combinations they think are the best and what those backup players look like,” Throckmorton said. “I’m doing everything I can to be able to make this roster and show that I can make this team better. … The more you can do as a backup and do it consistently at a high level, then the more value you bring to the team and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Throckmorton has spent time each of the past two seasons on Denver’s practice squad. Because he is a vested veteran, the Broncos could release him and place him on the practice squad to start this season with no risk of another team claiming him off waivers.

Against the Packers, there was an exchange on a snap in the first quarter between Throckmorton and quarterback Bo Nix in which the ball hit the ground. But left tackle Garett Bolles was called for a false start, which might have disrupted the snap.

“I’m proud of it,’’ Throckmorton said of how he has played in two preseason games entering Friday night’s finale against Minnesota at Empower Field. “I always look at it and try to do what I can to be better and obviously there’s a lot of things to get better at, but it’s one game at a time.”

Count Denver offensive lineman Frank Crum as a fan of what Throckmorton has been able to do with the team depleted at center.

“When ‘Throck’ gets called up, he does an excellent job of answering the call every time whether it’s at guard or center,’’ Crum said. “He’s a physical player who plays with his hands well. He’s smart, so the center thing is no problem for him.”

As for the five stitches on Throckmorton’s face, Crum figures that’s just another way for him to show off some football battle scars.

“I think he’s looking good,’’ Crum said. “I think those are good scars to show for the rest of your life.”