Tag: Ben Dinucci

Broncos make 3 roster moves ahead of Texans game

The Broncos activated WR Brandon Johnson from injured reserve and elevated TE Lucas Krull and QB Ben DiNucci from the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos made three changes to the roster on Saturday ahead of their showdown with the Houston Texans.

First, the Broncos activated wide receiver Brandon Johnson (hamstring) from injured reserve to the 53-man roster. Denver had an open spot for Johnson on the active roster after losing safety Kareem Jackson to a four-game suspension.

Johnson becomes the fifth WR on the 53-man roster, joining Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Marvin Mims and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

The Broncos also elevated tight end Lucas Krull and quarterback Ben DiNucci from the practice squad to the game-day roster. Both players will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

DiNucci is an interesting elevation because Denver has not made any additions to the injury report, so starter Russell Wilson and backup Jarrett Stidham are both healthy going into Sunday’s game.

It will be interesting to see if DiNucci ends up just being an emergency third-string QB or if the Broncos have some kind of package for him in the playbook. We’ll find out Sunday.

Broncos backup QB teases switch to coaching college football

Broncos backup quarterback Ben DiNucci (jokingly) teased himself as a hypothetical candidate to replace Curt Cignetti at James Madison.

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Ben DiNucci has (jokingly) teased himself as a hypothetical candidate to become the next James Madison football coach after Curt Cignetti left the program to coach Indiana.

“Not saying I would. Not saying I wouldn’t. Just saying my phone is open @JMU,” DiNucci tweeted from his official Twitter/X page on Thursday.

DiNucci, 27, played at Pittsburgh from 2015-2017 before transferring to JMU in 2018. In two seasons with the Dukes, DiNucci went 479-of-687 passing for 5,716 yards with 45 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. He also rushed 229 times for 1,002 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The dual-threat quarterback was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft and he ended up appearing in three games and earned one start as a rookie. After spending the 2021 season on Dallas’ practice squad, DiNucci played for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons last spring, leading the league with 20 touchdown passes.

DiNucci signed with the Broncos in May after a successful tryout. He now serves as a third-string backup quarterback on the practice squad. His tweet was posted in jest, but DiNucci might have a future in coaching down the road. Denver’s current quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb, was a backup in the NFL last fall, and he’s just one year older than DiNucci.

Perhaps the backup QB will return to JMU someday in the future.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

8 Broncos players have changed their jersey numbers

If KJ Hamler returns to the Broncos later this year, he will need a new jersey number: CB Tremon Smith has switched to No. 1.

Several Denver Broncos changed their jersey numbers on Monday.

Punter Riley Dixon, who wore No. 19 in preseason, switched to No. 9. Broncos receiver Marvin Mims, who wore No. 83 in preseason, then switched to No. 19.

Cornerback Tremon Smith also switched to No. 1 after wearing No. 23 in preseason. Cornerback Fabian Moreau, who wore No. 36 this summer, then switched to No. 23 (running back Tyler Badie remains No. 36).

Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, who previously wore No. 35, now wears No. 29. Defensive back Devon Key, who wore No. 38 in preseason, now wears No. 26 (running back Jaleel McLaughlin still wears No. 38).

Quarterback Ben DiNucci, who wore No. 6 this summer, now wears No. 11 (safety P.J. Locke still wears No. 6).

No. 1: CB Tremon Smith (previously 23)
No. 9: P Riley Dixon (previously 19)
No. 11: QB Ben DiNucci (previously 6)
No. 12: WR Tim Patrick (previously 81) [injured reserve]
No. 19: WR Marvin Mims (previously 83)
No. 23: CB Fabian Moreau (previously 36)
No. 26: DB Devon Key (previously 38)
No. 29: CB Ja’Quan McMillian (previously 35)

New practice squad players also received their numbers: WR Phillip Dorsett (No. 13), ILB Ben Niemann (No. 57), TE Lucas Krull (No. 85) and WR David Sills (No. 87).

Additionally, defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster is wearing No. 96. That’s not a new change — Lancaster switched from No. 62 to No. 96 after defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely for gambling.

During the offseason, players are allowed to share numbers if they play on different sides of the ball (such as McLaughlin and Key both wearing No. 38 in preseason). With the regular season now right around the corner, though, numbers 0-99 can only be worn once on the 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad.

The Broncos are considered 4-point favorites against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. View the team’s full regular season schedule here.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Sean Payton explains decision to only carry 2 QBs on active roster

For a third QB to not count against the game-day roster, he has to be on the 53-man roster. Sean Payton would like to see that rule changed.

The NFL announced a new rule this offseason that will allow teams to have a third-string quarterback not count against the 48-player game-day roster. There is a huge stipulation, though. In order to be eligible for that, the quarterback has to be on the 53-man roster (elevated practice squad QBs will still count against the game-day roster limit).

Many fans and pundits assumed that would lead to more teams carrying three quarterbacks on their active rosters this season. For at least the Denver Broncos, the new rule didn’t have any influence on their roster construction.

“I think there were a lot of people that felt like if the new rule said, ‘Hey, you could bring a third [quarterback] off your practice squad on game day,'” coach Sean Payton explained Thursday. “That would have possibly been a good solution. [Instead], the new rule basically says if you keep a third on your active, you can bring him up free.”

The San Francisco 49ers had a quarterback emergency in the playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles last season and they eventually had Christian McCaffrey taking snaps in a Wildcat formation.

The Niners’ situation did not influence Payton’s decision. The veteran coach will carry Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham on the active roster and Ben DiNucci on the practice squad this fall.

“What you had in Philadelphia versus San Francisco was a once in every four-year occurrence,” Payton said Tuesday. “We like the two guys who are on the roster, and we think we are going to have a good practice squad quarterback. That’s the approach we are going to take.

“Now, there are some teams that will keep a third on their active. It’s really just your decision on how you want to handle your 53. The new rule still requires you to keep a third on your 53. I will be anxious to see — let’s call it a week from now — how many teams have three on their 53. I’m sure there will be a few, but we will have a third in the building.”

Perhaps the NFL will consider allowing teams to have a practice squad QB not count against the game-day roster sometime down the road. That’s something that Payton would utilize, but the coach won’t carry DiNucci on the 53-man roster just to have a game-day roster exception in 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

10 surprises from Broncos’ initial 53-man roster

There were a few surprises when the Broncos set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

After making 39 roster moves (including two trades) on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos finalized their initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season.

It’s important to note that this is an initial roster for the Broncos as several more roster moves will be on the way within the next 48 hours. While we wait for the finishing touches on the active roster, though, here are 10 surprises from Denver’s moves on roster cuts deadline day.

Broncos waive quarterback Ben DiNucci

The Broncos have cut QB Ben DiNucci. If he clears waivers, DiNucci will likely be a practice squad target.

The Denver Broncos have waived quarterback Ben DiNucci, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported on Tuesday morning.

DiNucci went 21-of-31 passing (67.7%) for 187 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in preseason. He also rushed five times for 23 yards.

DiNucci, 26, was a backup with the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-2022 before playing for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL this spring. DiNucci got an opportunity with the Broncos this summer after he led the XFL in passing yards (2,671) and ranked second in touchdown passes (20),

Unless they claim a quarterback off waivers from another team, this presumably means that coach Sean Payton plans to only carry two quarterbacks on the active roster this season (Russell Wilson and backup Jarrett Stidham).

If he clears waivers, DiNucci will undoubtedly be a top candidate to return on the practice squad. While on the practice squad, DiNucci would be eligible to be elevated to the game-day roster three times during the season.

We are tracking all of the Broncos’ roster cuts on this page.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos stock up/down: Risers and fallers after second preseason game

The Broncos showed more signs of life against the 49ers. Here’s where things stand.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Denver Broncos found themselves snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, losing their second preseason game of 2023 by a score of 21-20 against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. We take a look at five risers and fallers from the game.

3 takeaways from Broncos’ 18-17 loss to Cardinals

Broncos Country, do you agree with these takeaways?

The Denver Broncos suffered a last-minute loss at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals in their first preseason game of 2023 on Friday evening. Here are three takeaways from the first action of 2023 for the Broncos.

Broncos lose to Cardinals 18-17 in preseason thriller

Third-string quarterback Ben DiNucci showed real promise on the go-ahead drive with 90 seconds left, but the Cardinals won in the end.

The Denver Broncos’ first preseason game under new head coach Sean Payton was a tough one, an 18-17 loss against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday evening.

Earlier in the week, Payton said that the Broncos’ offensive starters would go 15-18 plays. Instead, the offensive starters recorded 22 plays over four drives. Quarterback Russell Wilson eventually threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in the second quarter to make the game 7-0.

Denver’s starting defense did not allow any points in three drives, and fourth-year defensive back Essang Bassey intercepted Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune on Arizona’s second drive of the night.

The Broncos kicking game was extremely rocky. Brett Maher missed a 47-yarder early in the game, as well as having a 52-yarder blocked in the third quarter. Maher did make the extra point after the Jeudy touchdown. Elliott Fry missed a 50-yarder in the second quarter, but made a 55-yarder to make the game 10-0 right before halftime.

The Cardinals fought back with 10 points in the second half, with a Matt Prater field goal after Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw an interception, and a 10-play drive resulting in a Tune touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Third-string quarterback Ben DiNucci gave Denver one more chance to win the game, with a valiant 10-play, 87-yard drive that ended with a Jaleel McLaughlin four-yard touchdown with 90 seconds left.

However, the Cardinals would not go down easy. Quarterback David Blough helped Arizona down the field, throwing an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Brian Cobbs. Arizona finished it off with a two-point conversion with two seconds left, taking a one-point lead.

Hopefully, this is not a harbinger of things to come, as the Broncos were 3-7 in one-score games in 2022.

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

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos coach Sean Payton praises QB Ben DiNucci’s composure

“He’s a good decision-maker, and he’s pretty accurate … his decisions and football IQ are really strong,” Sean Payton said of Ben DiNucci.

Compared to starter Russell Wilson and QB2 Jarrett Stidham, Ben DiNucci is perceived as a young, inexperienced quarterback.

Stidham is a former fourth-round pick and he’s been in the NFL since 2019. Believe it or not, DiNucci is the same age as Stidham (26) and his pro career began in 2020. DiNucci also has one regular-season start on his resume.

DiNucci is a former seventh-round pick and while he’s not as high-profile as Stidham, DiNucci handles himself like a veteran at practice.

“[We like] his ability to get in the huddle, out of the huddle, execute the play, get to the right receiver, and distribute the ball,” Payton said after practice on July 26. “[There is] nothing really flashy. He’s a good decision-maker, and he’s pretty accurate. You know exactly what you’re getting, and his decisions and football IQ are really strong.

“Those are some things that sometimes you can’t appreciate until you have a preseason game, and you have a young quarterback and the clock’s ticking. There’s a calmness, a demeanor, and a little bit more experience with him — although he’s still young. I do see the arm talent and the athleticism, so [he is] someone we want to work with.”

DiNucci only has one career start in the NFL, but he started 10 games with the Seattle Sea Dragons this spring and led the XFL with 2,671 passing yards while scoring 20 touchdowns. He’s not challenging for the starting job in Denver, but DiNucci might rank among the best third-string QBs in the league.

With the backing of Payton, DiNucci will be an intriguing backup QB prospect to monitor going forward.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

[vertical-gallery id=620142]