Tag: Ben Braden

Broncos cut 5 players to get down to 85-man roster

The Broncos have parted ways with five players, including former fifth-round pick Jamar Johnson.

The Denver Broncos waived five players on Tuesday, the team announced.

Denver parted ways with safety Jamar Johnson, running back Max Borghi, wide receiver Kaden Davis, tight end Rodney Williams and receiver Travis Fulgham.

Johnson joined the team as a fifth-round pick out of Indiana last year. He dressed for three games and played 38 snaps on special teams as a rookie. If Johnson is not picked up by another team, he might be a candidate for Denver’s practice squad later this month.

Borghi is an undrafted rookie who joined the Broncos earlier this month. He rushed four times for 10 yards in the team’s first preseason game last week.

Davis is also an undrafted rookie. He played just 10 snaps in Week 1 of preseason and did not record any catches.

Williams, another undrafted rookie, was also held without a catch last week.

Fulgham is a fourth-year receiver who spent part of last season on Denver’s practice squad. He played 22 snaps in the first preseason game and caught one pass for 11 yards on three targets.

In addition to Tuesday’s five roster moves, the Broncos also signed linebacker Joe Schobert on Monday. Schobert (6-1, 240 pounds) was brought in to add more depth at linebacker while Jonas Griffith (elbow) is sidelined.

To make room for Schobert on the 85-man roster, Denver waived offensive lineman Ben Braden with an injury designation. Braden was a backup with the Green Bay Packers from 2020-2021 under coach Nathaniel Hackett.

The next round of cuts for the Broncos will arrive on Aug. 16 when the team has to get down to 80 players. After that, Denver has to finalize a 53-man roster before Aug. 30.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Former Packers OL Ben Braden signs with Broncos

Nathaniel Hackett and the Broncos signed former Packers OL Ben Braden, who appeared in 13 games for GB over the last 2 seasons.

Former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Ben Braden is heading to Denver to join Nathaniel Hackett, Justin Outten and the Broncos, the team announced Monday.

Braden, who turned 28 this month, played in 13 regular-season games for the Packers over the last two seasons, including nine last season. He was on the field for eight snaps on offense and 90 on special teams.

The Packers released him from the active roster on Jan. 10 of this year.

During the 2021 preseason, Braden played extensively at right tackle and left guard.

Braden gives the Broncos an experienced offensive lineman in the new offensive system that Hackett and Outten are bringing from Green Bay to Denver. It’s possible he could be a valuable depth player for the Broncos in 2022, especially with his connections to former Packers coaches.

Hackett was hired to be the Broncos head coach after three years of serving as Matt LaFleur’s offensive coordinator. He took Outten, the Packers’ tight ends coach, with him to Denver.

[listicle id=78872]

Broncos signing ex-Packers guard Ben Braden

Ben Braden will add depth to the Broncos’ offensive line.

The Denver Broncos are signing former Green Bay Packers guard Ben Braden to a one-year contract, ESPN’s Field Yates first reported Monday.

Braden (6-6, 329 pounds) is a 28-year-old journeyman who has spent time with four different teams, mostly recently with the Packers in 2021. He is familiar with the scheme of Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett and offensive coordinator Justin Outten, ex-Green Bay coaches.

Braden was likely signed merely to add depth to the offensive line as he is yet to start a regular season game in the NFL. He has dressed for 16 games in his career, including nine games with the Packers last season.

Braden will join an already-crowded guard room that includes Dalton Risner, Graham Glasgow, Netane Muti and Quinn Meinerz. If the Broncos move one of Glasgow or Meinerz to center, there will be more room for Braden. As it stands now, its hard to imagine Denver carrying five guards on the 53-man roster.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Packers release OL Ben Braden, make 2 moves on practice squad

The Packers released Ben Braden, activated WR David Moore back to the practice squad and released WR Chris Blair from the practice squad.

The Green Bay Packers made three different roster moves following Sunday’s season finale.

On Monday, the team released offensive lineman Ben Braden, activated receiver David Moore from the COVID-19 reserve list to the practice squad and released receiver Chris Blair from the practice squad.

Braden has been on the active roster since Nov. 21. He played in the last six games of the season, mostly on special teams. With David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers both back, the Packers are now deep along the offensive line and were able to free up a roster spot by releasing Braden. There’s a good chance he’ll return on the practice squad.

Moore was signed to the practice before the Packers’ Week 17 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. Elevated to the gameday roster, he played eight special teams snaps and returned three punts for 33 yards. Now back from the COVID-19 reserve list, Moore could be a candidate to be elevated again for games in the postseason as the primary returner.

Blair has been on the team’s practice squad all season, but it’s possible his spot will now go to Braden.

At some point soon, the Packers will need to activate receiver Randall Cobb and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith from injured reserve and right tackle Billy Turner from the COVID-19 reserve list. Braden’s release gives the Packers one spot to play with this week.

Packers sign OL Ben Braden from practice squad to replace Elgton Jenkins

The Packers signed Ben Braden from the practice squad to help provide depth after losing Elgton Jenkins to a season-ending knee injury.

The Green Bay Packers made a roster move on Tuesday in response to Elgton Jenkins’ season-ending knee injury. The team placed Jenkins on injured reserve and signed offensive lineman Ben Braden from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Jenkins tore his ACL during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings and will miss the rest of the season.

Braden, who has been on the practice squad all season, played in three games as a gameday elevation this season. He was on the field for 27 special teams snaps in games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Football Team and Arizona Cardinals.

An undrafted free agent from Michigan, Braden has played in 10 career games, including three with the New York Jets before arriving in Green Bay. He was originally signed by the Packers in October of 2020.

Braden played 154 total snaps at three different positions (left guard, right guard and right tackle) for the Packers over three preseason games. He allowed five total pressures and one sack, per Pro Football Focus.

[listicle id=71821]

Packers make first surprise cut, release OL Ben Braden

The Packers are releasing OL Ben Braden, who was competing to be a top backup.

The first surprise move from the Green Bay Packers during final roster cutdowns is here.

The team is releasing backup offensive lineman Ben Braden, according to Bill Huber of SI.com.

Braden played in six games, including both playoff games, for the Packers last season. He was competing to be a starter at guard to start training, and he played extensively at right tackle during the preseason.

In fact, Braden played the second-most snaps of any offensive player during the preseason. His 154 snaps trailed only the 157 from Yosh Nijman. He played 103 snaps at right tackle, 39 at left guard and 12 at right guard. According to Pro Football Focus, Braden allowed five pressures, including a sack, but he was still the team’s 10th highest-graded offensive player overall.

Before training camp, offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said Braden would have a chance to compete to start at both guard and tackle. Now, he’s off the roster.

Matt LaFleur confirmed last week that Braden was no longer a top competitor for one of the starting guard positions.

Braden’s exit should be good news for veteran Dennis Kelly, the expected backup at right tackle. Kelly has been injured for much of training camp.

[lawrence-related id=59027,60965]

[listicle id=61136]

Packers signing OL Ben Braden to practice squad

The Packers are adding a familiar face to the practice squad.

The Green Bay Packers are adding a familiar face to the practice squad.

Offensive lineman Ben Braden has signed with the Packers, according to Exclusive Sports Group, the agency representing Braden.

Bill Huber of SI.com confirmed Braden is signing to the practice squad, not the active roster.

Braden, an undrafted free agent from Michigan, spent nearly two months on the Packers’ practice squad last year. He was released in November.

Braden previously played in three games with the New York Jets. He rejoined the Jets to end the 2019 season and then spent the offseason and training camp with the New England Patriots.

The Packers had Braden in Green Bay for a workout last week.

Receiver Kalija Lipscomb was released from the practice squad on Tuesday, opening a spot for Braden.

[lawrence-related id=51960]

New England Patriots sign former Michigan offensive lineman

The former Wolverines left guard/tackle is getting another shot while playing alongside some familiar faces.

[jwplayer LBMZwOLy-XNcErKyb]

Even without Tom Brady, you might as well call them the New England Wolverines at this point.

Yes, Bill Belichick’s club still loves some maize and blue. Last year, the program drafted beloved former Michigan star Chase Winovich before drafting both Josh Uche and Michael Onwenu this year.

And on Monday, another is headed to Foxborough.

Though former Wolverines left guard/tackle Ben Braden has been in the NFL since 2017, his career hasn’t really taken ahold. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets, Braden has spent time on the practice squads for the aforementioned Jets and the Green Bay Packers — but has spent most of his time in East Rutherford, New Jersey, having suited up three times for one of the Big Apple’s ball clubs.

Now, according to Pro Football Talk, Braden is en route to the Jets rival, as the New England Patriots have signed him after he had a free agency workout.

[lawrence-related id=27324,27315,27308,27292]

Padded practices began for the AFC East franchise on Monday.

Jets place Tom Compton on IR, sign Ben Braden to active roster

The Jets have placed Tom Compton on injured reserve and signed Ben Braden to the active roster.

Another New York Jet has landed on injured reserve.

The team announced on Saturday that it has placed offensive lineman Tom Compton on injured reserve with a calf injury. In a corresponding move, the Jets signed offensive lineman Ben Braden to the active roster.

Compton started five games this season at guard for the injured Brian Winters. The Jets signed him in the offseason after he spent the 2018 season with the Vikings.

As for Braden, he has been with the Jets practice squad since November after spending time on the Packers practice squad. Braden was originally signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan in 2017. He was on the practice squad for all of 2017 before appearing in two games in 2018.

Jets sign OL Ben Braden to practice squad

The Jets have signed offensive lineman Ben Braden to the practice squad.

[jwplayer 1vROLFUW-ThvAeFxT]

After elevating Kyron Brown from the practice squad, the Jets had a spot to fill.

The team announced on Wednesday that they signed offensive lineman Ben Braden to the practice squad.

Braden was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan in 2017. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster in 2017, but was signed to the practice squad. The Jets then signed him to a future/reserve contract in January 2018.

In 2018, Braden made the 53-man roster, but was waived shortly after that and then re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster at the end of November. In 2019, Braden was back on the practice squad before being waived in September. Braden was signed to the Packers practice squad a couple days later and was waived last week.