Coach Gary Kubiak calls it “some nicks and things.” It is undeniably worse.

On the occasion of their first preseason game Thursday night at Chicago, in a showcase that is intended to help find Denver’s next quarterback, the Broncos will instead attempt to cobble together some protection.

Denver’s offensive line is in shambles. In the past week alone, the team signed two street free agents to bolster its ranks, rookies Sam Carlson from Colorado State and Mathu Gibson from Wingate. The Broncos have become desperate to plug holes.

Ty Sambrailo from Colorado State was the Broncos’ presumptive starting right guard when training camp opened. Even though he played in only three games as a rookie last year, he is the closest thing they have to a bedrock at the position. But Sambrailo hyperextended his elbow in practice and still can’t block anybody with a heavy brace on his right arm.

That pushed Michael Schofield to the top of the depth chart. He is best remembered as the guy who gave up four of Khalil Mack’s five sacks in a Raiders victory at Denver last season. Schofield, the most besmirched player on the Broncos’ Super Bowl roster and a scapegoat for all of the offense’s ills, is now Denver’s No. 1 right guard.

Schofield will start Thursday in the team’s first tune-up because of his versatility. He can play multiple positions, so he’s a backup everywhere. And his entry was only a matter of time.

“The thing with Mike is he got a lot of playing time, which gives him confidence in his ability,” Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. “His experience allows us to move him all over the place on the front line.

“That’s the kind of thing in today’s game, when you only have so many, and injuries start to mount, you need guys that can play everywhere. Mike has done that.”

The molding of this offensive line is a work in progress. This is nothing new for the Broncos. Their front five last year did not play a live snap together until the season opener against Baltimore. Denver signed veteran Evan Mathis late in camp, on Aug. 26, in a last-ditch move to reinforce the unit.

Here’s the bigger issue: When Peyton Manning played last season, often in quick-strike shotgun formations, Denver’s offensive line gave up only 16 sacks in 8 1/2 games. But with Brock Osweiler under center, running the nearest approximation of coach Kubiak’s preferred under-center offense, the quarterback was sacked 23 times in 7 1/2 games.

The Broncos are trying to keep up with a rising tide. They lost do-it-all center Sam Brenner to a nasty concussion early in camp, then waived him to sign Gibson. Their top offensive-line draft pick, Connor McGovern from Missouri, is stuck deep down the depth chart, the No. 4 right guard. Denver traded up to get him.

And Darrion Weems, who played one game in four years for the Cowboys, will start at right guard Thursday night, so Kubiak can move Schofield to left tackle in place of Russell Okung. The Broncos want to rest the veteran Okung for a meaningless preseason game. Better to not tempt fate.

“As long as we have everything fixed before we break camp, we’ll be on schedule,” Broncos offensive line coach Clancy Barone said.

Who now?

The Broncos carried over a porous offensive line from last season, and they’re already filling holes in training camp. How the line would look if the season started today:

LT — Russell Okung, veteran free-agent from Seattle. Backup: Michael Schofield.

LG — Max Garcia, started five games as a rookie in 2015. Backup: Aaron Neary.

C — Matt Paradis, played every offensive snap last season. Backup: James Ferentz.

RG — Michael Schofield, with Ty Sambrailo (elbow) out. Backup: Darrion Weems.

RT — Donald Stephenson, veteran free-agent from Kansas City. Backup: Darrion Weems.