The ring fit a hand full of Crushed fingers perfectly.

“I think I’m going to have to get put it on the scale to see how much it weighs,” ex-Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar, the heart and soul of Denver’s “Orange Crush” defense, said Sunday at Empower Field as he flashed his spanking-new Pro Football Hall of Fame ring. “Because it’s hurting my finger already.”

A little ache never hurt so good.

Gradishar, 72, was finally inducted to Canton this summer after years of near misses. The NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 and a seven-time Pro Bowler was honored before the Broncos-Raiders game for becoming the 16th Bronco and 15th Broncos player selected for HOF honors earlier this year.

“And as I think I mentioned out on the field, I’m number 373 as far as guys going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Gradishar said. “And if you look at it, think about it, since whenever (selections) started and for thousands of NFL players who went through playing in the NFL, (the Hall’s) only (had) 373 (inductees). So again, it’s just another blessing for me and having that athletic talent in order to be able to do that.”

Gradishar was doubly appreciative of the Broncos for bringing so many members of the ‘77 AFC champions back for the Raiders game. Two of his former teammates on that Super Bowl squad, tight end Riley Odoms and safety Steve Foley, were inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Fame.

OL injuries >> The Broncos entered Week 4 without right tackle Mike McGlinchey and saw their depth further tested. Alex Palczewski left the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Then Garett Bolles exited the game, albeit for just one snap.

Late in the game, center Luke Wattenberg went down, too, after a 1-yard Bo Nix touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Alex Forsyth finished the game at center.

Last year, the top group played almost exclusively together. This year through five games, all but Quinn Meinerz has missed at least a snap to injury.

Against Las Vegas, that meant Matt Peart ended up playing three positions: Jumbo tight end and both tackle spots.

“That’s the first time for me,” Peart said of playing three spots in one game. “Right, left and jumbo. You’ve got to be ready for anything.”

Peart’s been the Broncos’ jumbo tight end since Quinn Bailey suffered a season-ending injury during camp. He’s the No. 2 left tackle, as well. On the one snap Peart flipped over to left tackle for Bolles, undrafted rookie Frank Crum stepped in at right tackle.

Dulcich a scratch >> Greg Dulcich played the first four games for the Broncos but caught just five passes for 28 yards. In Week 5, Payton and the coaching staff made a change. They put Lucas Krull in uniform and made Dulcich a game-day inactive.

The rest of Denver’s inactives: QB Zach Wilson (emergency third quarterback), WR Devaughn Vele, DL Eyioma Uwazurike and CB Kris Abrams-Draine.