Tag: andrew beck

Broncos signing fullback Michael Burton to 1-year contract

The Broncos are bringing in Super Bowl champion Michael Burton to serve as their new fullback.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent fullback Michael Burton, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The one-year deal will be worth $1.3175 million, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Burton (5-11, 242 pounds) will replace tight end/fullback Andrew Beck, who the Broncos let walk in free agency this week. Beck agreed to a two-year, $6.75 million contract with the Houston Texans on Monday.

Burton, 31, has spent time with five NFL teams, most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2021-2022. He now lands with a division rival after winning Super Bowl LVII with the Chiefs last season.

In Denver, Burton will reunite with coach Sean Payton after he previously served as the New Orleans Saints’ fullback in 2020. Burton also spent time with the Saints in 2019, but only in the offseason.

Through eight seasons in the NFL, Burton has rushed 28 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns and totaled 18 receptions for 123 yards and another score as a receiver out of the backfield. His primary duty is blocking — it’s not a glamorous role, but it’s an important part of Payton’s offense.

After signing two offensive linemen, a blocking tight end, a running back and a fullback early in free agency, Payton seems to have sent a clear message that the Broncos plan to run early and often in 2023.

We are tracking all of Denver’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos lose free agent tight end to Texans

The Texans are signing former Broncos TE/FB Andrew Beck to a two-year, $6.25 million contract.

The Houston Texans are signing former Denver Broncos tight end/fullback Andrew Beck to a two-year, $6.25 million contract, according to Doug Kyed of AtoZ Sports Nashville.

Beck (6-3, 255 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas with the New England Patriots in 2019. After failing to make New England’s 53-man roster as a rookie, Beck was immediately picked up by the Broncos.

Beck played 16 games for Denver right away in his first season, earning six starts. He went on to spend three more years with the Broncos, earning four starts as a fullback last season.

Capable of playing both as a tight end and as a fullback, Beck hauled in 14 receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown in four years (51 games) in Denver.

In Houston, Beck will reunite with former backfield partner Mike Boone, who has also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Texans. Beck blocked for Boone and the Broncos’ other running backs from 2021-2022.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Breaking down the Texans’ contract with fullback-tight end Andrew Beck

The Houston Texans signed FB-TE Andrew Beck to a two-year contract. Here are the details of the deal.

More details are coming out concerning the Houston Texans’ two-year contract with fullback-tight end Andrew Beck, who previously was with the Denver Broncos from 2019-22.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, Beck’s deal is worth $6.25 million with $4 million guaranteed. The former New England Patriots 2019 undrafted free agent gets a $1.5 million signing bonus with a guaranteed $1.5 million salary in 2023, and then a $2.75 million salary next season with $1 million fully guaranteed.

Beck can earn up to $250,000 per game in active roster bonuses each season, and he has a $250,000 playtime incentive per year.

The 6-3, 255-pound tight end was predominantly used on special teams as he played 809 special teams snaps for Denver compared to 249 snaps on offense. Beck caught 14 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown while also rushing three times for three yards through 51 career games, 10 of which he started.

Texans sign former Broncos FB-TE Andrew Beck

The Houston Texans are signing former Denver Broncos tight end Andrew Beck to a two-year contract.

The Houston Texans are wading their way into the free agency pool.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are signing former Denver Broncos fullback-tight end Andrew Beck to a two-year contract worth $6.75 million.

Beck caught 14 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets through 51 career games, 10 of which he started for Denver as an undrafted free agent from Texas.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Beck spent the 2019 offseason and preseason with the New England Patriots, but did not make final cuts.

The deal becomes official on March 15 at 3:00 p.m. Central Time when the new league year kicks off.

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18 Broncos players scheduled to become free agents in 2023

Which upcoming free agents should the Broncos re-sign in 2023?

As the 2022 NFL season winds down, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton and his staff are preparing for the 2023 offseason and free agency. In addition to courting free agents from other teams, the Broncos will also have to make decisions on their own in-house free agents.

Denver has 18 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in the spring, according to Spotrac.com. Here’s a quick look at those players.

Broncos injuries: RB Mike Boone returns to practice

Broncos RB Mike Boone was back at practice today and he seems to be on track to be elevated from injured reserve this week.

Denver Broncos running back Mike Boone (ankle) was back on the practice field Wednesday after sitting out the team’s last four games on injured reserve. Boone is still on IR, but his return to practice might be a sign that Denver plans to activate him to the 53-man roster later this week.

Meanwhile, another player on IR — outside linebacker Randy Gregory (knee) — remains sidelined.

“Randy — that’s still up in the air,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said Monday when asked about Gregory’s status. “He might need a little bit more time.”

Elsewhere on the injury front, wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (ankle) and KJ Hamler (hamstring) are still sidelined while linebacker Dakota Allen (hamstring) and tight end/fullback Andrew Beck (hamstring) are both “day-to-day” this week, according to Hackett.

Denver’s complete Wednesday injury report will be added below when it becomes available later today.

The Broncos will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday.

Broncos buzz: Denver re-signed running back Devine Ozigbo and linebacker Harvey Langi to the practice squad on Wednesday.

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Andrew Beck has carved out an important role in the Broncos’ offense

“It gives you a lot of options when he’s out on the field,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said of Swiss Army Knife Andrew Beck.

When Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said in March that Andrew Beck had a “great chance” to win the team’s fullback role, some fans and pundits brushed it off as coach speak. As preseason drew to a close last month, Beck wasn’t even a consensus pick in 53-man roster predictions.

Beck did make the team, though, and he served a key role on offense in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. The tight end/fullback hybrid caught two passes for 52 yards and delivered key blocks on multiple run plays.

Beck also had a would-be touchdown catch negated by a penalty.

“He’s a guy that when we evaluated him when he came in here, we thought that he was definitely going to be able to contribute to this football team with that personnel package,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said Wednesday.

“I think that as he continually grows — now watching and being able to catch the ball and do things with it in his hands and split him out and bring him in — it gives you a lot of options when he’s out on the field.”

Beck might not have a huge role on offense every week, but he demonstrated in the team’s season opener that he’s more than capable of stepping up when called upon.

Playing a Swiss Army Knife position, Beck could end up being an unsung hero on offense for the Broncos this season.

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Broncos made a change on the practice squad

Dominique Dafney will presumably serve as a practice squad backup to Andrew Beck.

The Denver Broncos made a tight end swap on the practice squad Tuesday, signing Dominique Dafney and releasing Dylan Parham, the team announced.

Dafney (6-2, 243 pounds) was with the Green Bay Packers from 2020-2021, playing under then-Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Dafney was a tight end in Green Bay, but he earned second-team All-MVFC recognition as a fullback at Indiana State University in 2019.

Dafney’s experience at fullback likely means he’s going to provide depth behind Andrew Beck on Denver’s practice squad. Beck is also listed as a tight end, but the Broncos use him in a fullback-like role on offense.

In 15 career games with the Packers (four starts), Dafney caught four passes for 60 yards and one touchdown. He also played 106 snaps on special teams in Green Bay last season.

Beck was a key part of the Broncos’ offense in Week 1, catching two passes for 52 yards and delivering key blocks on several big runs. If anything happens to Beck during he season, Dafney would presumably be his replacement.

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Week 1 highlights from former Longhorns in the NFL

Former Longhorns balled out in Week 1 of the NFL season.

The 2022 NFL season is officially off and running. Week 1 wrapped up Monday night after an exciting opening slate of games.

Many former Longhorns had successful starts to the new year.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay looks to be one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets thus far. Duvernay hauled in two touchdowns in the dominant win over the Jets.

Miami Dolphins safety Brandon Jones was all over the field against the Patriots on Sunday. Jones tallied 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one sack in the victory.

His teammate Connor Williams performed great on the offensive side of the ball as well. Williams graded out as the best offensive player on the field for Miami.

Linebacker Jordan Hicks showed out in his Vikings debut. He picked up a team-high 14 tackles and a sack in Minnesota’s huge win over Green Bay. Hicks helped shut down Aaron Rodgers to just seven points in the ballgame.

Denver Broncos tight end Andrew Beck channeled his best Odell Beckam Jr. impression on Monday Night Football. He made an incredible one-handed snag early in the game against Seattle.

Here is a look at the highlights from the former Longhorns’ impressive starts to the NFL season.

Broncos’ Andrew Beck has done ‘a really good job’ learning FB role

If Andrew Beck makes the Broncos’ 53-man roster, he’ll play both as a tight end and as Nathaniel Hackett’s version of a fullback.

Nathaniel Hackett’s offense occasionally uses a fullback, but if Andrew Beck ends up making the 53-man roster, it won’t be simply because he has fullback experience.

Beck plays multiple positions and he can provide depth and experience at tight end in addition to filling the fullback role when it’s utilized. He’s not a lock to make the team, but Beck’s versatility helps his chances.

“He’s a guy that has come out here and played that swing position,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said Tuesday. “He’s been both fullback, he’s been on the line, he’s been a ‘Y’ during 11-personnel, so he’s a guy that is kind of like a Swiss Army knife. He can do so many different things. He does a really good job stretching the field down vertically, but also has done a really good job learning the fullback position and how we want to do it.

“So where that goes, you never know. We want to be as multiple as possible. We want to take advantage of defenses, so as much as we can utilize him in that role we will.”

Denver’s presumed roster locks at tight end are Albert Okwuegbunam and rookie Greg Dulcich. After them, Eric Saubert is a veteran option and Eric Tomlinson is a top blocking candidate. Depending on how many TEs the Broncos decide to carry on the 53-man roster, Beck might have to beat out Saubert or Tomlinson for a spot on the active roster.

Beck will have one more preseason game on Saturday to prove that he belongs in the Hackett offense.

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