Tag: Caden Sterns

10 Broncos players returning from injuries in 2023

Getting Tim Patrick, Javonte Williams and Garett Bolles back healthy will provide a big boost to the Broncos’ offense in 2023.

The Denver Broncos will get some serious reinforcements returning in 2023 after having several key players miss time in 2022 with various injuries.

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is not counted among the ten players listed below, but he is also recovering from offseason knee surgery. Wilson also through hamstring and shoulder injuries in 2022, plus a concussion.

Denver will hope that Wilson will be able to stay healthy in 2023. The Broncos will also be eager to welcome back left tackle Garett Bolles, running back Javonte Williams and wide receiver Tim Patrick on offense once they have recovered.

Here’s the full list of 10 players aiming to bounce back from notable injuries this summer.

Broncos’ updated safety depth chart after the NFL draft

After drafting JL Skinner and re-signing Kareem Jackson, the Broncos have a very crowded safety depth chart.

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FS SS Depth
Justin Simmons Caden Sterns Devon Key
P.J. Locke Kareem Jackson Devon Matthews
Delarrin Turner-Yell JL Skinner

After selecting a safety in the NFL draft and then re-signing Kareem Jackson, the Denver Broncos have an extremely crowded safety depth chart going into organized team activities this month.

Justin Simmons returns as the team’s star safety and, at the moment, Caden Sterns seems to be the favorite to start across from Simmons with Jackson providing rotational depth and experienced leadership.

Behind them, P.J. Locke returns after showing promise last year and Delarrin Turner-Yell, a fifth-round pick in 2022, is back as well. JL Skinner is probably a lock to make the team, but he’s extremely unlikely to start as a rookie.

Devon Key could be a wildcard to keep an eye on. He joined the team’s practice squad last December and it’s unclear if the Broncos plan to use him primarily as a safety or as a cornerback. Perhaps a hybrid nickelback role is in store for the versatile defensive back.

Denver also signed Devon Matthews as an undrafted free agent this spring. He will likely be competing for a spot on the practice squad. Update: Matthews apparently did not sign. 

The Broncos carried five safeties on their initial 53-man roster last year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them carry at least that many again in 2023. Denver might also consider trading away a safety given how much depth they have at the position going into the summer.

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Broncos open to re-signing safety Kareem Jackson

“The talks are ongoing,” #Broncos GM George Paton said of safety Kareem Jackson. “We’re speaking with Kareem and his agent, so we’re open.”

Even after selecting two defensive backs in the NFL draft over the weekend, the Denver Broncos are still open to a potential reunion with veteran safety Kareem Jackson.

“We’re open with Kareem,” Broncos general manager George Paton said after the draft on Saturday evening. “The talks are ongoing. We’re speaking with Kareem and his agent, so we’re open.”

Jackson, 35, has spent the last four years in Denver as a starter across from Justin Simmons. If he re-signs with the Broncos, it would likely be a one-year deal to provide depth and leadership in the team’s secondary.

Right now, Caden Sterns appears poised to start at safety across from Simmons in 2023. Denver also picked Boise State safety JL Skinner in the sixth round of the draft over the weekend, but the team could still use more depth at the position.

Jackson is one of three notable in-house free agents who remain unsigned, joining running back Latavius Murray and backup swing tackle Cam Fleming. All three could be potential candidates to return.

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Broncos have an offer on the table for safety Kareem Jackson

The Broncos made safety Kareem Jackson a contract offer last week. He’s still considering his options.

The Denver Broncos offered a contract to free agent safety Kareem Jackson last week, the veteran defensive back told KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis on Wednesday.

Jackson did not reveal specifics of the deal, but it is presumably a one-year contract near the league minimum. Last season, the Broncos gave Jackson a one-year contract worth $2 million.

For a player with 13 years of experience, the minimum salary in 2023 is $1.165 million. It’s probably safe to assume Denver’s offer falls somewhere between $1.165 million and $2 million.

Klis reported Wednesday that the offer hasn’t enticed Jackson enough to accept it, “at least not yet.” Jackson, 35, wants to have a deal soon, though, so it’s possible the safety might make up his mind after the NFL draft this week.

Jackson, a team captain, has started 61 games for the Broncos over the last four seasons, playing across from Justin Simmons. If he returns in 2023, Jackson might transition to a rotational role if Caden Sterns emerges as a starter this summer.

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Broncos Wire podcast: Trade talk, injury updates and more

Ryan O’Leary and Jon Heath wrap up WR trade talk, recap brief injury updates and discuss Phillip Lindsay’s return to football. Listen in!

With the 2023 NFL draft now just two weeks away, we have a new Broncos Wire podcast episode today featuring trade talk, brief injury updates and Phillip Lindsay’s return to football.

This week’s episode (No. 76) with host Ryan O’Leary (@RyanO_Leary on Twitter) can be heard below:

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Ryan and I will return next week to give our top needs for Denver in the NFL draft. If you enjoy this podcast, you can check out previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on your podcast service of choice. Please consider giving the podcast a positive rating and review!

Our unedited notes for this week’s pod can be seen below. 

The Broncos are not trading a WR! We promise! Really! Believe us!

  • After a lot of reporting that Denver was listening to trade calls for WRs, Sean Payton has since said the Broncos will NOT trade Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton. Pinky-promise a trade won’t happen.
  • I suspect that Denver held firm in its asking price (1st for Jeudy, probably a 2nd for Sutton) and nobody will meet that, so it makes more sense for the Broncos to keep them both than to trade them for less than what they believe they are worth on the team.
  • There is no doubt, however, that Denver was considering shaking up the WR room this offseason — the Broncos tried to sign Adam Thielen and Allen Lazard during free agency, and they eventually landed former Saints WR Marquez Callaway.
  • Even though the Broncos insist they won’t trade a WR, I still think it could happen around or during the draft if a team offers what Denver is asking for. But maybe they already know teams won’t budge. I’m sure fans would rather keep both Jeudy and Sutton than trade them for a mid-round pick.

Injury updates: Russell Wilson, KJ Hamler undergo surgeries 

  • Wilson had arthroscopic right knee surgery to clean up some lingering pain that he’s had for a few seasons. He should be fully recovered soon.
  • Wilson also battled through a right shoulder injury, a hamstring injury and a concussion last season. Add those injuries to the list of reasons why last season was a disaster. Hopefully Wilson can move beyond those injuries and bounce back in 2023.
  • Hamler, meanwhile, continues to be plagued by injuries. He underwent pectoral surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after hurting his pec while working out away from the facility.
  • Hamler missed 3 games in 2020, 14 games in 2021 and 10 games in 2022 with various injuries. Entering a contract year, if he doesn’t recover and have a big season, this is probably Hamler’s last year in Denver.

Just another reminder that this is Sean Payton’s show now 

  • Payton bought a $4.5 million home in Denver and then went to the NFL owners’ meetings in Arizona and declared to the media that the Broncos will tackle in practice this summer and play their starters in preseason (something Nathaniel Hackett did not do in 2022).
  • These statements from Payton come after he previously kicked Russell Wilson’s personal QB coach out of the facility. (Hackett let Wilson do whatever he wanted, including having his personal staff in the building.)
  • Payton has made it clear things will be different in 2023. He seems to believe things like tackling in practice, playing in preseason and overhauling strength and conditioning and nutrition could help cut down injuries.

Put some respek on Caden Sterns’ name

  • I had safety as a position of need for the Broncos, and they tried to sign Nick Scott and C.J. Gardner-Johnson during free agency before those players joined the Bengals and Lions, respectively.
  • After CJGJ signed with the Lions and Denver fans were moping about it on Twitter, Caden Sterns first tweeted laughing crying emojis (🤣🤣🤣), then he tweeted this: “Keep that same energy. Still love you guys though.”
  • He later deleted the tweets.
  • This is apparently a weak safety class, so after not signing a safety, the Broncos are expected to start Justin Simmons and Caden Sterns this year. Sterns has been really solid when called upon, but he’s missed a bunch of time with injuries since college.
  • If he can stay healthy, Sterns is a starting-caliber safety. Denver might want some fallback depth, though, so maybe re-signing Kareem Jackson to another one-year deal could be an option.
Miscellaneous: Phillip Lindsay in the XFL and a question — Can you throw for 10 yards in an NFL game?
  • That’s a popular question on social media. Kendall Hinton had a perfect response: no. (No screens or shovel passes allowed.)
  • Phillip Lindsay made his XFL debut on Sunday night and scored a touchdown.
  • There are two more regular-season weeks of XFL this spring followed by a round of playoffs and a title game in May. The USFL season also starts this weekend. What do we think of spring football?
  • NFL draft: April 27-29: We dive in next week with positions of need.

You can listen to every past episode below or at this link.

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Caden Sterns seemingly responds to fans who wanted Broncos to add a safety

As the roster stands now, Caden Sterns is projected to start across from Justin Simmons in the Broncos’ secondary this fall.

The Denver Broncos were in the market for a safety during NFL free agency.

The Broncos showed interest in Nick Scott and C.J. Gardner-Johnson before they joined the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, respectively. Kareem Jackson, who will turn 35 next month, is an unsigned free agent and Denver appeared to be seeking a possible replacement.

Broncos fans were well aware of — and excited about — the team’s interest in Gardner-Johnson, so it’s no surprise that fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment when CJGJ signed with the Lions on Sunday evening.

Caden Sterns, who is the in-house candidate to replace Jackson, seemingly took notice of the fans who hoped the team would sign a free agent safety.

“Keep that same energy. Still love you guys though,” Sterns tweeted with a laughing crying emoji on Sunday night.

Sterns tweeted this shortly after CJGJ landed in Detroit:

With limited salary cap space available, Denver seems to be done making big splashes in free agency. That presumably means Sterns is now the top candidate to start in Jackson’s place this fall.

Sterns is a starting-caliber safety, but he missed 12 games with injuries last year and two games in 2021. Before that, he missed multiple games with the Texas Longhorns in college. It’s not a matter of Sterns having the talent, it’s a matter of him staying on the field.

Through two seasons in the NFL, Sterns has totaled 49 tackles, nine pass breakups, four interceptions and two sacks in 20 games (five starts). As the roster stands now, Sterns is projected to start across from Justin Simmons as a strong safety in 2023.

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Broncos’ defensive depth chart before NFL free agency

Before the Broncos gain (or lose) any players during free agency, here’s a quick look at the team’s projected defensive depth chart.

The NFL’s “legal tampering period” — when clubs can negotiate with pending free agents on other teams — begins on Monday, March 13. Two days later, the new league year will mark the official start of NFL free agency on Wednesday, March 15.

The Denver Broncos will have many in-house free agents they will want to re-sign, including a few key contributors on defense.

Before the team gains (or loses) any players during 2023 NFL free agency, here’s a quick look at the Broncos’ (projected) defensive depth chart as of early March. We previously published a special teams depth chart here. Check back tomorrow for the offense.

Broncos veteran safety Kareem Jackson wants to play 1-2 more seasons

Kareem Jackson, set to turn 35, says he wants to play another season or two in the NFL. Should the Broncos re-sign him?

After the Denver Broncos’ 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in their season finale earlier this month, veteran safety Kareem Jackson made it known that he does not plan to hang up his cleats.

“Whether it’s here or another team, I still feel like I have enough gas left to go play one or two more seasons,” Jackson said on Jan. 8, via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Jackson, who will turn 35 in April, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. So if his career is going to continue in Denver, the Broncos will have to give him a contract extension.

Jackson started all 17 games in 2022, totaling a career-high 94 tackles. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles, but for the first time in four years in Denver, he did not record any interceptions.

Jackson is a leader in the locker room and a talented player, but given his age, the Broncos might consider moving forward with promising young safeties Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke competing for playing time across from second-team All-Pro Justin Simmons in 2023.

Jackson is one of 18 Denver players set to become free agents in March.

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Broncos made several roster moves on Tuesday

After placing RB Mike Boone on IR, the Broncos are adding WR Freddie Swain.

The Denver Broncos made several changes to their roster on Tuesday.

First, the Broncos placed running back Mike Boone on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Because there are only four games left this year, Boone’s season is now over.

To fill Boone’s former spot on the 53-man roster, Denver signed wide receiver Freddie Swain off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Swain played with Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson from 2020-2021, catching 38 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns in 33 games with the Seattle Seahawks.

Additionally, Denver released defensive lineman McTelvin Agim from the practice squad. A former third-round pick in 2020, Agim never lived up to his high draft status with the Broncos.

Denver also lost backup guard Netane Muti on Tuesday — he left the team’s practice squad to join the Las Vegas Raiders’ active roster.

After cutting Agim and losing Muti, the Broncos have two open spots on the practice squad. Denver might save those two spots for players cut this week to make room for other players returning from injured reserve.

Broncos outside linebacker Randy Gregory (knee) and safety Caden Sterns (hip) are both eligible to return from IR, but the Broncos will have to make room for them on the 53-man roster.

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