Tag: Devon Key

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.

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Broncos roster series: No. 38, DB Devon Key

Devon Key spent the last two years on the practice squads of the Chiefs, Falcons and Broncos. Now he’ll try to win an active roster spot.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at first-year defensive back Devon Key, No. 38. (During the offseason, players can share a jersey number if they play on different sides of the ball. McLaughlin will wear No. 38 on offense this summer.)

Before the Broncos: Key (6-0, 208 pounds) played college football at Western Kentucky, earning All-Conference USA honors as a senior in 2020. He started 49 of a possible 50 games in four seasons with the Hilltoppers, totaling 350 tackles, a school record in their FBS era. The safety went undrafted in 2021 and joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a college free agent.

After spending his rookie season on KC’s practice squad, Key spent part of the 2022 season on the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.

Broncos tenure: Denver signed Key to its own practice squad last December. He is yet to appear in any regular-season games and is considered a “first-year” player because he does not have an accrued season.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: The Broncos have a lot of talented options at cornerback and a deep safety room, so it will be difficult for Key to make the active roster as a defensive back. He might be a top choice for the practice squad, though.

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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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Steve Spagnuolo, Andy Reid praise Brett Veach for finding Chiefs DB Devon Key

Steve Spagnuolo and Andy Reid gave props to #Chiefs GM Brett Veach for his latest undrafted free agent find in DB Devon Key.

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t tend to put a whole lot of stock into draft status — if you can play, you can play.

It’s why so many undrafted free agents have made this team during seven seasons. Guys like Daniel Sorensen, Darrel Williams, Tershawn Wharton, and Tommy Townsend all began their careers as undrafted free agents and all had an opportunity to impress the coaching staff in Kansas City.

The latest undrafted free agent making an impression is defensive back Devon Key. The former Western Kentucky Hilltopper has picked up the defensive scheme quickly. As a result, the coaching staff has thrown him to the wolves, allowing him repetitions with the first-team defense in their dime sub-package.

When asked about Key, Steve Spagnuolo gave props to general manager Brett Veach, who has a recent knack for finding undrafted talent who are ready to contribute.

“I’ll tell you what, Devon Key, I think Brett Veach and his guys did an excellent job identifying him—he’s an undrafted free agent,” Spags told reporters on Wednesday. “I think he’s an instinctive guy. He’s in tune to everything. We’ve got him playing a couple spots just to find out what he’s all about, and I’m really impressed right now. ”

Andy Reid echoed similar sentiments about the rookie, while also giving Veach credit for finding the talented young player.

“[Key is] real smart,” Reid said. “He’s done a nice job on the back end there kind of controlling things and making sure everybody is doing the right things. Then, he has enough skill there where he can go make some plays. Again, a good young player. A nice job by (Brett) Veach, make sure he gets the credit on that because he’s done a nice job.”

So what’s next for the undrafted rookie? Key has already done a lot to prove himself in practice, but the coaching staff wants to see it all come together in the preseason. If he can continue to impress against opponents who are also competing for a job, he’ll certainly have done enough to cement his position in Kansas City.

“We’ll see what he does in a game,” Spags said. “We preface all of these comments by the fact that we can’t do anything live really and it’s not a game, but right now I think he’s doing a nice job.”

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5 takeaways following Chiefs mandatory minicamp

Patrick Mahomes looking good? Offensive line depth tested? Standout rookies? That and more on the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp.

The Kansas City Chiefs have broken the huddle for the last time until training camp begins in late July.

There are plenty of stories surrounding the team, with mounting pressure from back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. So how does the current iteration of the Chiefs stack up so far? They could be a lot worse off after a few weeks of what Steve Spagnuolo aptly refers to as “pajama practices.”

Here is a quick look at five takeaways following the conclusion of the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp:

6 players to watch at Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp

Keep an eye on these six players as the Kansas City Chiefs get mandatory minicamp underway.

The Kansas City Chiefs kick off their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

While practices won’t be open to the public until training camp begins in July, traditionally there tends to be more information coming out of practices beginning around mandatory minicamp. Below you’ll find a quick look at some of the players that you should be keeping an eye on throughout the next three days.