Highlights for offensive linemen are rare, and, frankly, they prefer it that way. There are no individual awards or game balls. The line acts as one and thinks as one, and when one player messes up, they fall as one. The less attention, the better because attention is typically tethered to criticism.

The lineman lifestyle isn’t for the faint of heart.

But this year more than ever in Denver, one man has stood out. Second-year center Matt Paradis has been the rock on a line that has been, well, rocky. He rose from practice player to full-time starter seemingly overnight last season.

“I’m not sure how many guys are in this league that played eight-man football in high school. That’s probably the thing that’s more unusual in this league than a guy in his second year kind of taking over,” Broncos offensive line coach Clancy Barone said. “He goes from working with a Hall of Fame quarterback last year (Peyton Manning) that would kind of control everything to where, now, we have a guy in Trevor (Siemian) who kind of puts the onus back on Matt to be the guy that’s kind of running things up front. I think he’s embraced that and is doing a really fine job of it.”

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Paradis is the only Bronco to have played every offensive snap — all 1,788 of them — to go with 120 special-teams snaps since the start of last season, when, as a first-year starter, he was tasked with being Manning’s fifth center in four years.

Prior to Super Bowl 50, Manning likened Paradis’ reliability up front to that of Jeff Saturday, Manning’s long-time center in Indianapolis who was selected to six Pro Bowls in his 14-year career.

More significant than the comparison, however, was the source.

“Peyton had way more authority than most quarterbacks in the league do, and most quarterbacks rely on their center to make a bunch of calls before they can even make their call,” said former Broncos tackle Tyler Polumbus. “But I can think of two or three games last year where there were specific blitz looks that Matt was responsible to find. It was his job to turn around and tell Peyton what that blitz was going to be, and Peyton multiple times said, ‘Hey, Matt, I’m counting on you to see it for me because I’m not going to see it.’ For a guy like Peyton Manning to rely on somebody, to put his trust in somebody — that says a lot.”

This year, Paradis’ command at the line and experience in the system has been relied upon even more as the offense transitions to having Siemian run the show. Paradis’ play count has remained steady — no easy feat considering the state of his body. He has been limited to one practice day a week in an effort to keep his sore hips functional for game day.

“I know one thing: I want him out there running the show on Sunday,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “It is tough. When he is missing, he does all of the non-competitive stuff and all the walk-throughs that we add this time of year. We keep him up to date from that standpoint, but it’s more important that Matt is there for us on Sunday than it is on Thursday.”

The altered schedule poses challenges, especially as the Broncos prepare for their toughest stretch of the season. But it has its benefits, too.

“You have to do way more mentally,” Paradis said. “Since I’m not out there on the field with them (for practice), we have to talk about how we’re going to block. Like, ‘This is how I’m going to step,’ ‘This is how I see this happening.’ We have to be more upfront. Which is probably better for us in the long run.”

The Broncos’ offensive line ranks 25th in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, a reflection of its inconsistencies, especially at the tackle positions. Donald Stephenson and Ty Sambrailo, now jockeying for the starting job at right tackle, have allowed a combined six sacks and 46 quarterback pressures, according to PFF. On the left side, Russell Okung has surrendered 38 pressures.

Paradis, however, is rated by PFF as the top center in the league — higher than Travis Frederick, who anchors the Cowboys’ line that is widely regarded as the best in the league.

In Denver, Paradis is the tone-setter. By necessity and performance, he stands out.

“For me, especially being a young quarterback, with everybody up front, he runs the show for us,” Siemian said. “As guys are getting more comfortable in the system, they’re coming along. But him getting a full year last year and being a pretty intelligent dude, he runs the show for us and he gets everybody lined up, myself included sometimes. He’s big-time for us.”

Broncos’ offensive snapshot

Category No. Ranking Sacks allowed 26 T25th QB hurries 55 T10th QB knockdowns 66 T25th False starts 10 T9th Holding penalties 13 T23rd Rush yds/carry 3.69 26th Pass yds/attempt 6.49 21st

Source: STATS, NFL; through Week 11