Tag: bryce callahan

WATCH: Broncos CB Bryce Callahan looks healthy in workout video

Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan appears to have recovered from last season’s foot injury.

Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan appears to have recovered from the foot injury that prevented him from playing last season.

In a recent interview with The Houston Chronicle‘s Aaron Wilson, Callahan said he has “never been more excited to get back out on the football field.”

“Coming off of last year, it was a big disappointment,” Callahan said (subscription required for link). “I don’t want to say I’ve got something to prove, but I’ve got something to prove to myself . . . . I’m ready to get back out there. I’m full-go with no limitations. I’m not really even thinking about my foot. Everything is moving in the right direction. I just want to play all 16 games, stay healthy and ball out.”

After totaling 39 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups with the Chicago Bears in 2018, Callahan signed a three-year, $21 million contract with Denver last spring. Complications from foot surgery forced him to sit out the 2019 season. Now healthy again, Callahan is poised to serve as one of the Broncos’ top three cornerbacks in 2020.

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Broncos are ‘really eager’ to see Michael Ojemudia on the field

“He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie,” Ed Donatell said of Michael Ojemudia.

After being selected by the Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft, Michael Ojemudia will likely serve as one of Denver’s top three cornerbacks this season, behind A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan.

“We’re delighted to have Michael,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 11. “Michael brings size [6-1, 200 pounds], he brings speed [4.45 40-yard dash] and he can judge a ball down the field deep. Those are very important parts to a DB. He’s really on schedule as a tackler and a hitter, which we know is very important to the Broncos’ style of defense.”

Depending on if Callahan lines up in the slot or on the outside, Ojemudia might end up starting across from Bouye. That would be a tall task for the rookie and Donatell wasn’t ready to declare Ojemudia’s role just yet.

“How he fits in — we want him to do as much as he can as a rookie,” Donatell said. “Time will only tell that. What I can tell you is he’s really, really in the top part of the class as far as his learning curve. He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie. He’s off to a good start. We’re just really eager to get him on the field and get started coaching him in a physical sense.”

During his final three years at Iowa, Ojemudia totaled 120 tackles, six interceptions, 16 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He will make his on-field debut in orange and blue in the Broncos’ preseason opener against the 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 15.

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Broncos CB Bryce Callahan healthy and ‘ready to go’

Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan has finally recovered from a foot injury.

After missing the entire 2019 season, Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) is healthy again, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 11.

“On the medical side, he’s ready to go,” Donatell said of Callahan. “He’s running full speed. He’ll be right in our camp and ready to go. He’s been totally engaged.”

Callahan, who played under coach Vic Fangio while with the Chicago Bears, signed a three-year, $21 million contract with Denver last March. Callahan was recovering from a foot injury when the Broncos signed him and post-surgery complications forced him to sit out the year.

Callahan, 28, restructured his deal with the team this offseason. He’s now playing on a two-year, $12.382 million contract.

If he stays healthy, Callahan will serve as one of Denver’s top three cornerbacks this season. It’s uncertain if he will line up on the outside across from A.J. Bouye or if he will play in the slot as the Broncos’ No. 3 cornerback.

In 2018, his most recent season, Callahan totaled 39 tackles, two sacks, six pass breakups and two interceptions. He will turn 29 in October.

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Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Cornerback

Which cornerbacks will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster this season?

As we continue our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at cornerback.

Previously, we predicted the QB, RB, TE, WR, OL and DL depth charts.

Here’s a way-too-early projection for the team’s cornerback room:

Cornerback Slot Cornerback 
A.J. Bouye Duke Dawson Jr. Bryce Callahan
Davontae Harris De’Vante Bausby Michael Ojemudia
Essang Bassey Shakial Taylor Isaac Yiadom

There’s a chance that Callahan could end up being the slot cornerback, like he was with the Chicago Bears. Callahan spent time on the outside last spring, though, and Denver liked Dawson as a slot cornerback before he was injured last season.

Bouye is a locked-in starter — Callahan and Ojemudia might be the favorites to start across from him, depending on how the slot situation shakes out. Harris and Bausby had stretches of strong play last year so they should have decent chances to make the team again this season.

Bassey was one of the top undrafted free agents available in April and he could be a sleeper to make the 53-man roster. Yiadom, a former third-round pick, will face fierce competition to make the team. Taylor will also face long odds, but he could make the squad with a strong training camp.

The Broncos carried six cornerbacks on their initial roster in 2019.

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Broncos hopeful Bryce Callahan will be ready for training camp

The Broncos are hopeful that cornerback Bryce Callahan will be healthy in time for training camp.

After missing all of the 2019 season with complications after foot surgery, Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan is aiming to be healthy in time for the 2020 season.

Broncos general manager John Elway provided a brief update on Callahan’s status during his pre-draft Zoom conference call with reporters on Monday.

“It sounds like he’s coming along,” Elway said. “[He needs to get] out there and [run] around, feels comfortable with his foot and works through that to where hopefully he gets into a position to where is comfortable to play.

“We’re hopeful that things are coming along, and he’ll be ready by the time we get to training camp and then work back into things. We’re hoping that Bryce can come back, play this year and play the way we think he’s capable of.”

Even if Callahan is healthy in time for the season, Denver will still need another starting cornerback candidate to pair with Callahan and A.J. Bouye. Expect the Broncos to add several cornerbacks during the draft.

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Projecting Broncos’ secondary depth chart before the NFL draft

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth in the secondary going into the NFL draft.

With the 2020 NFL draft now just one week away, here’s a look at the Broncos’ projected secondary depth chart as it stands right now:

Cornerback Safety Safety Dime Cornerback
Bryce Callahan Kareem Jackson Justin Simmons Duke Dawson A.J. Bouye
Davontae Harris Trey Marshall Alijah Holder Shakial Taylor De’Vante Bausby
Isaac Yiadom P.J. Locke Kahani Smith Tyvis Powell

Denver has a pretty good group of starters but the team is lacking depth across the board. If any of the team’s starters are injured (like Callahan was last year), the secondary will suffer greatly.

After losing Chris Harris to the Chargers during free agency, the Broncos have a big hole at cornerback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team use one of their first picks in the draft on a cornerback.

Denver also needs more depth at safety. Simmons should be a reliable defensive back for years to come (assuming he agrees to a contract extension) but Jackson is 32 years old and will need to be replaced in the coming years.

The Broncos should target a cornerback early and add a safety in the mid-rounds of the draft next week. Denver will have 10 picks to use.

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Broncos restructure Bryce Callahan’s contract, create more cap space

The Broncos have created more salary cap space by restructuring cornerback Bryce Callahan’s contract.

The Denver Broncos have restructured cornerback Bryce Callahan’s contract, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The restructure will save the team $1.8 million in salary cap space this season.

Callahan can earn $2 million in playtime incentives, according to Pelissero. That gives him the opportunity to make back some money and it gives Denver some security incase Callahan is sidelined by injury again.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle shared the complete details of the new contract on Twitter:

Callahan missed all of last season as he tried to recover from a foot injury. The Broncos are hopeful that he can recover in time for the 2020 season.

After Denver singed tight end Nick Vannett, we estimated that the team had roughly $13.325 million in remaining cap space (that’s a rough estimate because the contract details for new offensive lineman Graham Glasgow are still murky). Adding in the savings from Callahan’s restructure, that number increases to $15.125 million (but again, that’s a rough estimate).

The Broncos appear to be done making big moves in free agency.

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Broncos’ updated cornerback depth chart after A.J. Bouye trade

After the Broncos agreed to trade for A.J. Bouye, Denver’s cornerback depth chart is starting to shape up.

The Broncos have agreed to trade a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars in exchange for cornerback A.J. Bouye. The deal won’t become official until March 18 but we can already start imagining what Denver’s secondary will look like after Bouye officially joins the roster.

The Broncos are not going to tender De’Vante Bausby but that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t bring him back. Denver should be able to re-sign Bausby for less than what a tender would cost. So with that in mind, we have Bausby as part of the depth chart even though he’s not under contract.

Chris Harris is not included on the depth chart, though. It’s possible that the Broncos could re-sign Harris but it appears unlikely to happen. Cyrus Jones and Davontae Harris seem to be candidates to be re-signed but they’re not on the current depth chart.

CB1: A.J. Bouye (6-0, 191 pounds) is entering his eighth season in the NFL and he seems to be a perfect fit for Vic Fangio’s defense. Bouye earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 after recording six interceptions and fans in Denver can only hope that he returns to top form under Fangio.

CB2: Bryce Callahan (5-9, 188 pounds) missed all of last season with a foot injury but Broncos fans shouldn’t overlook him. Callahan is doing better now than he was at this point last spring and he has experience playing under Fangio. In 2018, Callahan totaled two sacks and two interceptions.

CB3: De’Vante Bausby (6-2, 190 pounds) played in the AAF last spring before reuniting with Fangio in Denver (sensing a trend?). He emerged as a quality cornerback last season before suffering a scary injury. Bausby is now healthy again and could be a good CB3 or excellent CB4 in 2020.

CB4: Duke Dawson (5-10, 198 pounds) was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2018 draft and later traded to the Broncos for a late-round pick. He was a serviceable nickelback last season and should have no problem winning a rotational spot in the secondary this offseason.

CB5: Isaac Yiadom (6-1, 190 pounds) was selected by Denver in the third round of the 2018 draft and has failed to live up to his draft status since then. He can’t be relied on to be one of the team’s top cornerbacks but he could provide depth in 2020.

CB6: Shakial Taylor (6-0, 181 pounds) was claimed off waivers by the Broncos last November and didn’t dress for any games. Denver clearly saw something in him and wanted to stash him for the future. This offseason, Taylor will get a shot to prove he deserves some playing time.

CB7: Alijah Holder (6-2, 188 pounds) signed with the Broncos as a college free agent last spring and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. With Will Parks not expected to return, Holder might have a better chance to make the roster if he switches to safety.

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Broncos CB Bryce Callahan doing better than he was at this time last year

“He says he’s doing much better compared to last year at this time,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said of cornerback Bryce Callahan.

Denver Broncos cornerback Bryce Callahan is making progress in his recovery from a foot injury. During his media availability at the NFL combine earlier this week, Broncos coach Vic Fangio gave a brief update on the defensive back’s status.

“I just saw him the other day,” Fangio said Tuesday. “He says he’s doing much better compared to last year at this time . . . . He told me the other day that he feels a lot better — whatever day that was, February 18 or 19 — than he did last year on the same day.”

Denver is hopeful that Callahan will be healthy for the 2020 season but regardless of his status, the Broncos will address the cornerback position.

“I think we have to get better there,” general manager John Elway said Tuesday. “That’s one area we’re looking to get better. I think we got better as time went on. We had some young guys. We had some injuries there.

“Bryce didn’t play last year. We had relied on him. Chris [Harris] had to stay outside a lot more because Kareem [Jackson] played safety. That’s an area that we’re looking to hopefully get better this offseason.”

Broncos fans should expect the team to bring in multiple cornerbacks this offseason, either through free agency, the draft or both.

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5 Broncos who need to have bounce-back seasons in 2020

The Denver Broncos will be looking to end their playoff drought in 2020. These five players can help.

The Denver Broncos fell short of a playoff berth with a third consecutive losing season in 2019.

The team hopes to be better in 2020 with head coach Vic Fangio having a full season under his belt, pushing forward with the promising Drew Lock at quarterback and a brand new offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur.

But to realize improvement — much less get to the playoffs and win some games once there — it takes a collective effort. For the Broncos to reach their full potential next season, these five players need to bounce back.

Note: This list will not contain any free agents. So the likes of Chris Harris and Connor McGovern will be absent as their futures remain uncertain. 

1. Ja’Wuan James

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

If the Broncos don’t want to pay James for absolutely nothing again, the right tackle needs to bounce back in a big way. That starts with being on the field.

James was one of the worst free agent signings any team in the league made this offseason, but a bounce-back year could help atone for that. Should he have another year in which he almost doesn’t play at all, the Broncos would likely be forced to move on.

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