Tag: center

Saints have 2 ex-Broncos set to face their former team on ‘TNF’

Saints lineman Connor McGovern and fullback Adam Prentice will face their former team when the Broncos visit New Orleans on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos have eight former New Orleans Saints players on their roster going into a Thursday Night Football showdown with Sean Payton’s old team.

The Saints, meanwhile, have a pair of former Broncos on their own roster in backup offensive lineman Connor McGovern and fullback Adam Prentice.

McGovern, 31, (not to be confused with the 26-year-old Connor McGovern who plays for the Buffalo Bills) entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Missouri in 2016. He spent the first four years of his career in Denver, starting 36 games while moving between guard and center. McGovern is now a backup center in New Orleans.

Prentice, 27, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2021. After failing to make Denver’s 53-man roster as a rookie, he was picked up by the Saints. He has spent the last four years in New Orleans, serving primarily as a blocking fullback and special teams player.

McGovern and Prentice will face off against their former team when the Saints host the Broncos on TNF on Oct. 17.

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Chargers have one former Bronco set to face his old team

After being cut by the Broncos this summer, center Sam Mustipher joined the division rival Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers are traveling to Colorado this week and they’re bringing one former Denver Broncos player to potentially face off against his old team.

After he was cut by the Broncos in August, center Sam Mustipher signed with the Chargers’ practice squad. He was elevated to the game-day roster for L.A.’s last game and started at center, playing 56 snaps. It’s unclear if he’ll start again this week, but Mustipher seems likely to at least dress for the game.

Mustipher competed with Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth for Denver’s starting center job this summer. Wattenberg ended up winning the job and Forsyth made the team as the primary backup. Mustipher then joined a division rival instead of re-signing with the Broncos’ practice squad.

Denver also has a pair of former Chargers on its practice squad: pass rusher Andrew Farmer and tight end Donald Parham. Neither player has appeared in a game for the Broncos so far this season.

Denver’s game against Los Angeles will be regionally televised on CBS. Despite playing at home with a three-game winning streak, the Broncos are considered underdogs against the Chargers this week.

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Broncos worked out 2 offensive linemen on Tuesday

The Broncos worked out center Dieter Eiselen and interior offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland on Tuesday. Eiselen joined the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos have been hit hard by injuries on the offensive line and the team brought in some reinforcements on Tuesday.

The Broncos worked out center Dieter Eiselen and interior offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland. Eiselen won the workout and he was signed to the team’s practice squad.

Sutherland (6-5, 316 pounds) is a fifth-year lineman who has spent time with six NFL teams, playing as a swing guard/center. The 27-year-old lineman has dressed for six games — including two starts — in his career. He most recently spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars last fall.

Denver sought more depth on the line after losing right tackle Alex Palczewski and center Luke Wattenberg to ankle injuries against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Broncos also lost practice squad offensive tackle Will Sherman to an ankle injury last week.

Eiselen was signed to provide more depth at center and Cam Fleming also joined the practice squad to provide more depth at tackle.

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Broncos place practice squad OT Will Sherman on injury list

The Broncos placed OT Will Sherman (ankle) on their practice squad injury list on Tuesday.

The offensive line injuries keep coming for the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos placed backup offensive tackle Will Sherman (ankle) on the team’s practice squad injury list on Tuesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. The injury happened during practice last week.

Sherman (6-4, 300 pounds) joined the Broncos in 2022 after previously competing on the practice squad of the New England Patriots in 2021. He spent last season on Denver’s practice squad and is yet to make his NFL debut.

The Broncos also lost fill-in starting right tackle Alex Palczewski and starting center Luke Wattenberg to ankle injuries this week. Denver signed tackle Cam Fleming and center Dieter Eiselen to the practice squad to add more depth while Palczewski and Wattenberg are sidelined.

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) will be eligible to return from injured reserve next week. In the meantime, Matt Peart (right tackle) and Alex Forsyth (center) are likely the next men up on the offensive line.

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Broncos sign veteran center to practice squad

After losing Luke Wattenberg to an ankle injury, the Broncos signed center Dieter Eiselen to their practice squad.

The Denver Broncos signed veteran center Dieter Eiselen to their practice squad on Tuesday after losing Luke Wattenberg to an ankle injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Eiselen (6-4, 315 pounds) is a fourth-year center who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Yale with the Chicago Bears in 2020. He dressed for 14 games in three seasons with the Bears and then joined the Houston Texans in 2023, dressing for 10 games that season.

Eiselen played 63 snaps with Chicago in 2022 and four snaps with Houston last fall. He has also played 82 snaps on special teams in his career.

The severity of Wattenberg’s injury is not yet known, but the fact that Denver is adding insurance at the position probably isn’t a great sign for Wattenberg’s chances of suiting up against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

If Wattenberg is not able to play this week, second-year lineman Alex Forsyth would be the next man up at center. Forsyth made his offensive debut against the Raiders, filling in at center for the final 10 snaps of the game.

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Broncos center had a really awkward moment vs. Raiders

Broncos center Luke Wattenberg clearly did not realize that quarterback Bo Nix was not lined up under center on this play.

Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos center Luke Wattenberg and rookie quarterback Bo Nix were clearly not on the same page before a second-down snap.

Nix lined up in shotgun, but Wattenberg must have thought the quarterback was under center because when he snapped the ball, he snapped it directly into himself, expecting Nix to be there.

The resulting snap quickly went viral on social media:

Fortunately, Nix recovered the ball and the Broncos went on to win 34-18.

Former college quarterback and coach Mike Sanford, who now works for 9News, speculated that Wattenberg’s botched snap is what led to Nix’s heated moment with coach Sean Payton on the sideline.

“My Take: The Heated Exchange between Bo Nix & Sean Payton was based on this Play…not the absolute Dime that he uncorked to Troy Franklin,” Sanford wrote on his Twitter/X page on Monday morning.

Payton and Nix indicated after the game that the sideline exchange happened after the quarterback flipped a play that Payton did not want to be flipped.

As for Wattenberg, injury was added to embarrassment later in the game when he left with an ankle injury and Alex Forsyth played the final 10 snaps at center against the Raiders.

We’ll see if Wattenberg recovers in time to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

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Chiefs C Creed Humphrey reveals mindset during contract negotiations for historic deal

Kansas City #Chiefs C Creed Humphrey reveals mindset during contract negotiations for historic deal | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made another big splash last week contract-wise by retaining one of their star players long-term before the start of the 2024 season.

Chiefs starting center Creed Humphrey addressed the media on Monday, only days after signing a contract extension to remain in Kansas City.

“I’m in the perfect situation for me; I’m playing in a place that I get to call home. And it’s been awesome to call home the past four years, and I’ve really enjoyed it. So getting this opportunity is awesome.” said Humphrey. “The guys around (here) coaching staff, everything is top notch here, obviously, getting to play with Pat (Patrick Mahomes) things like that, the whole situation, is perfect for me, so I’m really happy to be here.”

The news broke last Thursday night before the final preseason game, with Creed becoming the topic of discussion. There is potential for a change in the market with a center being paid the same value as most guards around the league.

“I think that’s something that everybody wants to do for the sake of everybody in the NFL,” said Humphrey. “It’s good for everybody in the NFL. So, yeah, I’m excited about it again. They did a great job. I just had a great job negotiating; it was a good process. And I’m excited about the way it turned out and ready to play four more years here.”

Humphrey’s extension is worth $72 million over four years with a $50 million guarantee. He is currently the highest-paid center in the league but maintains the same mindset of helping the team win another Super Bowl title.

“Yeah, for me, I never really thought about it. I’ve just tried to stay focused on ball, and that’s how I’ve approached this whole thing, to stay focused on ball and proving what I can every day,” said Humphrey. “So, it was never really something that I was too busy straining thinking over too much.”

Humphrey will be in the lineup on September 5th when the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens in the opening game of the 2024 regular season.

Details of Creed Humphrey’s contract extension with Chiefs revealed

Check out how much Creed Humphrey will be paid on his new contract with the #Chiefs

On Thursday night, news broke that the Kansas City Chiefs are set to sign star offensive lineman Creed Humphrey to a contract extension that will make him the highest-paid center in the NFL.

Humphrey, who joined the team as a second-round pick in 2021, is among the most critical pieces of Kansas City’s front five and has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant linemen in his three seasons with the Chiefs.

Shortly after his extension was announced by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, details of Humphrey’s extension were posted to Twitter by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

According to Schefter, the extension will pay Humphrey $72 million over four years with a $50 million guarantee.

Humphrey is set to be a major part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl defense campaign in 2024 and should be expected to play with an extra edge after securing this monster extension.

Keep your eye on the former Oklahoma Sooner when Kansas City faces the Baltimore Ravens to kick off the regular season on September 5.

3 offensive linemen worked out for the Broncos on Thursday

Offensive linemen Aaron Monteiro, Mike Novitsky and Mike Panasiuk worked out for the Broncos on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos brought in three offensive linemen for workouts on Thursday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver brought in tackle Aaron Monteiro, center Mike Novitsky and guard Mike Panasiuk.

Monteiro (6-6, 315 pounds) played college football at Boston College, earning third-team All-ACC recognition as a senior in 2018. He has spent time with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, but he has never played in a regular-season game.

Novitsky (6-5, 295 pounds) played college football at Buffalo and Kansas. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April and he was waived earlier this month.

Panasiuk (6-4, 300 pounds) played college football at Michigan State. He has spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Panthers but has only ever played in preseason games.

Elsewhere in the NFL, former Broncos wide receiver Trinty Benson and linebacker Justin Hollins worked out for the Commanders earlier this week. Hollins also worked out for the Indianapolis Colts.

Denver seems to be looking for more depth on the offensive line going into Week 2 of NFL preseason. We’ll track any potential signings on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos’ center competition might be down to a pair of contenders

Luke Wattenberg seems to be leading the Broncos’ center competition at the moment, but Alex Forsyth will get his chance to impress.

The quarterback competition is not the only position battle heating up at Denver Broncos training camp.

The Broncos also have a competition at center and before Tuesday, Luke Wattenberg had been running with the first-team offense. Alex Forsyth got his turn with the starters on Tuesday after previously spending time at guard.

“Well, he’s been working with [No.] 1s and we’ve actually been able to get Alex reps at center and also at guard,” coach Sean Payton said when asked about Wattenberg last week. “There’s no etched-in stone right now at that position. There’s competition, and we like it. We like the way that both of those guys are playing. That flexibility that Alex is showing a little bit at guard has been encouraging.”

With Wattenberg seemingly holding a lead at center and Forsyth displaying versatility, it seems that veteran Sam Mustipher might be the odd man out in the competition. Mustipher has played as a center to this point in his career whereas Wattenberg has filled in at guard for the Broncos in the past.

“He’s smart,” Payton said of Wattenberg. “I think he’s got good versatility. There are traits that you look forward to in a center. You look for guys that obviously are strong inside handling the pash rush.

“Then it’s how are they at the second level? Often times, that player is able to combo and get up to a linebacker — can they finish? So he’s someone that’s pretty athletic and has a really good ability to get to his second-level blocks.”

Denver’s staff will want their backup center to be a versatile player who can fill in at both center and guard if needed. Wattenberg has already proven he can do that and Forysth is showing signs of promise. If he doesn’t come out of nowhere to win the starting job, Mustipher could end up off the roster when it’s all said and done.

We’ll see how the center reps shake up when preseason begins later this month. The Broncos will open preseason on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11.

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