Broncos 2019 positional grades: Linebacker

Despite losing Bradley Chubb early in 2019, the Denver Broncos’ linebacker corps had a respectable 2019 season.

Denver Broncos fans saw the linebacker position as a highly intriguing part of the roster entering the 2019 NFL season for a couple of reasons. For one, it is an area the team has lacked in for several years and with Vic Fangio coming aboard as the team’s head coach, the hope was that would change.

Before becoming one of the league’s best defensive coordinators, Fangio made his name as the long time linebackers coach of the New Orleans Saints, where he helped create the “Dome Patrol.”

Let’s see how the Broncos’ linebackers each graded out in 2019.

Von Miller

Stats

Tackles: 46

Sacks: 8

Tackles for loss: 11

Miller played well in 2019, but we have come to expect big things out of the former Super Bowl MVP and we just didn’t get big things this past season.

He still led the team with eight sacks, but that was the lowest amount of sacks he put up in a season since he had just five in 2013, the year he tore his ACL.

Miller was adjusting to a new defensive scheme and depending on what side of the fence you’re on, you either believe that Miller isn’t a great fit for this defense or the coaching staff didn’t know how to use him.

While we can’t give him a bad grade for leading the team in sacks, he needs to be a much more disruptive force in 2020.

Grade: B-

Todd Davis

Stats

Tackles: 134

Tackles for loss: 6

Not only did Davis lead the Broncos in total tackles, but he was also tied for eighth in the entire league in that category.

Davis was strong in run support for the team and had what was statistically the best season of his career, despite playing in just 14 games.

Grade: B

Pages: 123456

Alexander Johnson ranked No. 46 on PFF’s Top 101 players list

Broncos inside linebacker Alexander Johnson has been named one of the Top 101 players in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.

Pro Football Focus, a website that tracks advanced NFL stats and grades players on a 0-to-100 scale, has been rolling out their Top 101 players list from the 2019 NFL season. Broncos inside linebacker Alexander Johnson is ranked No. 46 on the list.

“He didn’t start until Week 5, but from that point onward, his grade ranked among the All-Pro players at his position, and he was the best-graded linebacker of them all against the run,” PFF’s Sam Monson wrote.

Johnson (6-2, 255 pounds) totaled 93 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in 15 games last season (12 starts). He is poised to remain a starter going into the 2020 season.

Alexander is the second Broncos player to make the list, joining wide receiver Courtland Sutton (No. 69). Last year, outside linebacker Von Miller (No. 11) and cornerback Chris Harris (No. 23) were Denver’s only players on PFF’s Top 50 list. Miller and Harris did not make the Top 101 list this year.

To view PFF’s complete list of the Top 101 NFL players, click here.

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Final injury report for Chargers vs. Broncos

Taking a look at the final injury reports for the Chargers and Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers had their final practice of the week before heading out to Denver to take on the Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

Here is a look at the final injury report:

QUESTIONABLE

OT Russell Okung

OT Sam Tevi

WR Geremy Davis

Things are looking up for Okung and Tevi to return to the starting lineup this weekends. Okung was a full participant after being limited the past two practices, while Tevi remained limited.

Safeties Derwin James and Adrian Phillips’ availability for Week 13 is up in the air. Coach Anthony Lynn hasn’t made a decision on activating James for Sunday. But he said James looked healthy this week in practice.

Here is a look at the Broncos’ final injury report:

QUESTIONABLE

LB Von Miller

LB Alexander Johnson

LB Josey Jewell

NT Shelby Harris

CB Duke Dawson

OT Ja’Wuan James

According to coach Vic Fangio, Miller and Johnson are “truly 50-50” to play this weekend.

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