So who starts at safety for the Broncos in 2024?

The Broncos might go into 2024 with Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke as their starting safeties. The biggest question: Can they stay healthy?

The era of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson has come to an end.

Simmons had been starting for the Broncos since 2017. Jackson started across from Simmons from 2019-2023 (until suspensions ultimately led to his release). Jackson is gone and Simmons has now been cut as well.

So who will start at safety for Denver in 2024?

The team’s safeties currently under contract are Caden Sterns, Delarrin Turner-Yell, J.L. Skinner, Devon Key and Tanner McCalister. P.J. Locke, who started eight games in the place of Jackson last year, is scheduled to become a free agent next week.

Locke should be a priority in-house free agent for the Broncos. He has proven himself as a capable starter and Denver will need him to step up in 2024 (assuming he returns). Locke will likely be paired with Sterns, who was a candidate to start over Jackson last year before he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

On paper, Locke and Sterns certainly look like a capable pair of starting safeties. The biggest concern will be if they can stay healthy. Locke missed five games last year and Sterns missed 28 of a possible 34 games over the last two seasons due to injuries.

When healthy, Locke and Sterns are starting-caliber defensive backs, but the Broncos will need to add more depth at safety this offseason.

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Available free agent safeties for the Broncos in 2024

Here is a list of 15 free agent safeties the Broncos should consider this offseason.

After listing notable free-agent defensive linemen yesterday, we’re looking at free-agent safety options for the Denver Broncos today.

Justin Simmons is one of the best safeties in the league, but his former partner, Kareem Jackson, is no longer on the team. Caden Sterns might be a candidate to start across from Simmons in 2024, but Sterns has missed 28 games due to injury over the last two seasons.

In case Sterns is not able to stay on the field, Denver needs another starting-caliber safety on the roster.

One big name to keep an eye on is C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who drew interest from the Broncos during free agency last year. Denver also has a notable in-house free agent safety in P.J. Locke who is scheduled to hit the open market if the Broncos do not re-sign him before March 13.

So, with free agency about a week away, here’s a quick list of 15 free-agent safeties that Denver should consider signing this spring.

Broncos made several roster moves Wednesday

The Broncos placed DB Caden Sterns on injured reserve and promoted WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

The Denver Broncos made several roster moves this week ahead of their showdown with the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Following injuries to safety Caden Sterns (knee) and tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring), the Broncos have made two changes to the 53-man roster.

First, Sterns was placed on injured reserve with a torn patellar tendon. That injury will rule him out for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Denver could also place Dulcich on short-term IR, which would allow him to return to the active roster after four games, but at the time of this writing, Dulcich remains on the 53-man roster.

To fill the open roster spots created by Sterns going on IR, the Broncos promoted wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. To fill Humphrey’s former spot on the practice squad, Denver signed wide receiver Michael Bandy.

The Broncos also released defensive lineman Forrest Merrill from injured reserve with an injury settlement on Monday. Merrill is now a free agent.

See a recap of the team’s roster moves below.

Report: Caden Sterns’ injury is expected to be season-ending

Broncos safety Caden Sterns tore a patellar tendon against the Raiders in Week 1.

Denver Broncos safety Caden Sterns suffered what is believed to be a season-ending injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

On just his second snap of the game, Sterns tore a patellar tendon. He will now likely miss the remaining 16 games of the 2023 season after previously missing 12 games due to injury in 2022.

Sterns (6-1, 207 pounds) was picked by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Texas. After spending his first two seasons as a rotational defensive back, Sterns was listed as a co-starter with Kareem Jackson on the team’s strong safety depth chart this summer.

Sterns and Jackson were both announced as starters before Sunday’s game, but Jackson was playing with the team’s base defense across from Justin Simmons. Jackson will continue starting and the team’s remaining backup safeties are now Delarrin Turner-Yell and rookie JL Skinner (P.J. Locke will be eligible to return from injured reserve after Week 4).

Sterns, 23, has totaled 49 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions and two sacks through 21 games in the NFL. His rookie contract runs through the 2024 season.

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Broncos injuries: Updates for Caden Sterns and Greg Dulcich

Broncos safety Caden Sterns suffered a “serious” knee injury against the Raiders on Sunday.

Story update I: Caden Sterns tore a patellar tendon, an injury that is expected to be season-ending. See our original post below. 

Story update II: Greg Dulcich is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. See our original post below. 


The Denver Broncos lost two key players to injuries during Sunday’s 17-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

First, safety Caden Sterns went down with a knee injury and was carted off the field. Later in the game, tight end Greg Dulcich suffered what the team described as a “leg” injury.

Sterns suffered a “serious knee injury,” according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis, but it’s not year clear if it’s a season-ending injury. Sterns and Kareem Jackson have been listed as co-starters on the depth chart all summer. Jackson would be the “next man up” at strong safety, but he was already playing that position.

Dulcich hauled in two receptions for 22 yards on Sunday before suffering a hamstring injury, according to Klis. Dulcich missed the first five games of the 2022 season while nursing a hamstring injury and then also missed the final two games of the year with the same problem.

The Broncos’ remaining tight ends are Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz and Nate Adkins. Denver also has Lucas Krull on the practice squad.

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Broncos fall to Raiders 17-16 in Sean Payton’s first game

Sean Payton is 0-1 with the Broncos following Sunday’s loss to the Raiders at home.

Welcome back to the NFL, Sean Payton.

After taking a break from coaching in 2022, Payton joined the Denver Broncos this offseason, and he started his tenure with an onside kick to begin Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Denver recovered the kick, but the ball was touched before going 10 yards, resulting in a penalty that nullified the recovery. Even without a recovery, though, the attempt excited fans about the start of the Payton era.

Unfortunately, the unsuccessful onside attempt was a sign of things to come.

The Raiders went on to score a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead. The Broncos then matched that score when quarterback Russell Wilson led a 14-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey to make it 7-6 late in the first quarter (the ensuing extra-point attempt was missed).

Las Vegas added a field goal in the second quarter to extend their lead to 10-6. Wilson matched that score with his second touchdown pass of the game, a five-yard toss to Courtland Sutton that made it 13-10 just before halftime.

Late in the third quarter, Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a pass that was tipped in the end zone by linebacker Alex Singleton and then intercepted by veteran safety Kareem Jackson, halting a Las Vegas drive and preserving Denver’s lead.

After missing a PAT and a 55-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz converted a 24-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16-10 midway through the fourth quarter.

After that field goal, Garoppolo led a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 17-16 lead. Denver was unable to match that score and Las Vegas later managed to run out the clock to secure a narrow victory.

Lutz’s missed kicks and Denver’s 10 penalties proved to be very costly in the loss.

On the injury front, safety Caden Sterns suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and was quickly ruled out. Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich later suffered a knee injury and was also ruled out.

Up next for Denver is another home game in Week 2 — the Broncos are set to host the Washington Commanders next Sunday.

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Ranking the safety tandems in the AFC West

How does each AFC West team compare at the safety position?

The final position on the defense that gets a look is the safety spot. And the AFC West has two of the best in the league in its ranks.

Former Longhorn DB Caden Sterns cites Texas staff as reason why he struggled

The former five-star and Texas safety did not hold back when talking about what hindered him at the college level.

Social media is often the gift that keeps on giving. Continue reading “Former Longhorn DB Caden Sterns cites Texas staff as reason why he struggled”

Broncos coach Sean Payton praises ‘smart’ safety Caden Sterns

“I think that he’s smart, and that’s a good trait to have at his position,” Broncos boss Sean Payton said of third-year safety Caden Sterns.

Entering his third year with the Denver Broncos, 23-year-old defensive back Caden Sterns will have an opportunity to win a starting job across from fellow safety Justin Simmons this summer.

During organized team activities last month, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked if Sterns is ready to take the “next step” in his career. Payton first responded to the notion of a “next step” for the team before addressing Sterns.

“Look, the next step is that cliche term,” Payton said on June 8. “I hope all of them take the next step because last year’s steps were not good enough.”

Fair enough! Now, on to Sterns.

“I think that he’s smart, and that’s a good trait to have at his position,” Payton said. “He [also] has instincts. That was a heck of a play [at practice on June 8] down the field and staying on top. For him staying healthy and then taking a little bit of this momentum — confidence is born really out of demonstrated ability.

“You can hope for confidence, or say, ‘I’m going to be confident,’ but it’s only born from demonstrated ability. Plays like that—  you guys have all seen a preseason game where someone excels and then all of a sudden, you have a different player. You can point to a certain moment. He’s one of those type of players.”

Sterns played in 15 games as a rookie, earning two starts as an injury fill-in. He totaled 28 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two sacks in his first season.

Sterns was expected to build on those totals in 2022, but he suffered a season-ending hip injury five games into the season. Before that injury, Sterns started three games and totaled 21 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.

Now healthy again, Sterns will compete for a starting job at training camp. Kareem Jackson might see his role reduced to rotational defensive back this fall, giving Sterns a chance to start across from Simmons. If he’s able to stay healthy, Sterns might be on the verge of a breakout season.

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Broncos position preview for 2023: Safety

The Broncos have excellent depth at safety going into the summer. Denver will have to make some tough decisions at the position this year.

After using a sixth-round pick to select JL Skinner in April’s draft, the Denver Broncos now have six safeties on the 90-man offseason roster: Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns, Kareem Jackson, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell and Skinner.

Jackson re-signed with the team after the draft and while he has started 61 games over the last four seasons, the veteran won’t be a lock to start across from Simmons again in 2023.

Instead, we currently have Sterns projected as the team’s starting strong safety across from free safety Simmons. Jackson will provide leadership and depth in the secondary while likely serving in a rotational role.

Behind them, Locke is entering his fourth season, Turner-Yell is entering his second season and Skinner is approaching his rookie campaign. It’s hard to imagine the Broncos carrying six safeties on the finalized 53-man roster, so the team will have to make some tough decisions this summer.

Broncos Safety Depth Chart