After health scare, Broncos’ Quinn Meinerz expects to play vs Lions

Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz had a scary weekend that landed him in the hospital Sunday night in Los Angeles, but he was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and told reporters afterward that he expects to play Saturday night at Detroit.

Meinerz experienced an elevated heart rate and alerted the team’s medical staff around halftime. Next thing he knew, he was in an ambulance on the way to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

“Obviously when your heart’s not working right, it’s a little nerve-wracking,” Meinerz told reporters Wednesday at his locker. … “They treated it as if it was a serious situation.”

He said he knew when he told the training staff of his symptoms — chest tightness, trouble breathing — what was likely to happen next.

“Yeah, I had an anticipation,” he said. “I was pretty aware of what may or may not happen. So when I told the staff what I thought was going on, they acted as if (it was serious).”

The third-year guard said he’d never experienced any heart-related issue or irregularity in the past. He also said he was feeling better by the time he got to the hospital.

Throughout the process, he said, he kept tabs on the game.

“Oh no, I was definitely keeping up with the game,” he said. “It was cool to see that play (with Courtland Sutton) scoring that touchdown with one hand. And then obviously the cool play that (tight end Adam) Trautman scored on, as well.”

All in all, a scary initial situation that resolved quickly and in the best possible way for Meinerz.