Connor McGovern has let his mind wander a bit to Sept. 8. Because of injuries and uncertainty at the position, it isn’t a stretch that the Broncos’ fifth-round pick could be the opening day starter at right guard.

Is McGovern ready for the job?

“I’d like to think I am,” said McGovern, laughing and rubbing his recently shaved head. “That’s obviously a huge call especially against a team like Carolina. It’s going to be primetime TV. It’s the Super Bowl all over again. It’s something that I’m going to do everything I can to be ready for, if it does happen.”

Regardless of whether he starts opening night, McGovern has to be prepared for significant action during his rookie season. The transition between college and the NFL seems to be the most difficult for offensive linemen. Many have to take a year to learn the more intricate blocking schemes and techniques.

McGovern said he’s had some of the early struggles that many young offensive linemen have with consistency and being hesitant because he’s thinking too much at times. The Broncos might not have that luxury to allow him to just sit and learn this season.

Ty Sambrailo’s hyperextended right elbow and Darrion Weems’ concussion leave the Broncos’ top two choices to start at right guard as an uncertainty. The Broncos are hoping that Sambrailo and Weems will return soon, but they have to be prepared otherwise. McGovern and Michael Schofield are the next two in line.

“Connor is a young player who’s in the mix at the right guard spot for us,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “He’s having to bounce around. As we try to get to suiting seven guys in two weeks, a big factor with that is how does Connor keep coming? I’ve been pleased with his work.”

In the midst of competing at right guard, McGovern got another duty put on his plate – center.

Backup center James Ferentz had his knee scoped earlier this week and is expected to miss a few weeks. If Ferentz isn’t ready to start the season, it’d likely be McGovern as the lone player on the 53-man roster who could also function as a backup center behind starter Matt Paradis.

McGovern had been functioning as the Broncos’ third-team center for much of the summer, but now his responsibility becomes more vital. He has relished the opportunity.

“I like it because it helps me really understand the offense. There’s no better way to learn it than to be thrown in the fire and making all the calls,” McGovern said. “You don’t have that mental side down, it might be pretty hard.”

McGovern said playing center has also improved his guard play because he understands every offensive lineman’s responsibility. It doesn’t help him much in facing defensive end Derek Wolfe every day in practice though.

Wolfe’s combination of strength, size and experience provides the most difficult test for McGovern, who is a strong man himself.

“Going against a guy like Wolfe every day, that’s practice you can’t get anywhere else,” McGovern said. “Any little weakness those kind of guys are going to expose it. It’s not a confidence builder to go against them, but it’s great practice because you’re going to learn what you need to work on.”

Getting daily repetitions against the Broncos’ first-team defense has provided the baseline for him to face similar challenges in game action. McGovern still has a lot of room to grow, but he’s an important player in the Broncos’ plans for 2016 and beyond.

McGovern file

A glance at Broncos offensive lineman Connor McGovern:

Size: 6-foot-4, 306 pounds

College: Missouri

Draft: 2016 fifth-round pick, 144th overall

Versatility: McGovern started at left tackle, right guard and right tackle in college, but he prefers to play inside now including his new role of center.

Creating the tone: McGovern loves run blocking because its when he can be the aggressor and bring the hurt to his opponent. At guard, he’s working on doing more of that in pass protection.

Strong as an ox: McGovern benched 33 repetitions of 225 pounds at the NFL combine, tied for second-most among all players. He said he can squat more than 700 pounds.

Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post