The Denver Broncos gave a four-year, $52 million contract to guard Ben Powers during free agency, signing him to replace in-house free agent Dalton Risner.
After bringing in Powers, the Broncos let Risner walk in free agency. The Colorado native then went several months as an unsigned free agent before landing with the Minnesota Vikings one week into the 2023 season.
Risner returned to Denver on Sunday to face his former team for the first time, and the guard had no hard feelings toward his childhood club.
“[I have] never been in this [visiting team] locker room, this is all new,” Risner said after Sunday’s game. “I’ve never been in here. I’ve never played [against] the Broncos, obviously. Everyone knows I grew up a Broncos fan, but really proud to be a Viking.
“Tough that we fell short, but give credit to the Broncos, man. They did a great job tonight. So we have to go back to the drawing board. We got a big Monday night game coming up, a division game, so it’s on to the next.”
After losing to the Broncos 21-20 on Sunday, Risner and the Vikings are now set to face the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
Risner, 28, spent the first four years of his NFL career in Denver after growing up in Wiggins, Colorado. Now in Minnesota, he’s all-in with the Vikings, but Risner still has love for his former team.
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