Tag: Justin Strnad

Broncos activate three players from Reserve/COVID-19 list

Broncos QB Drew Lock has cleared COVID-19 protocol and will return to practice this week.

The Denver Broncos have activated quarterback Drew Lock, inside linebacker Justin Strnad and cornerback Michael Ojemudia from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Saturday.

Strnad now returns to the 53-man roster, but Lock will be a roster exemption until later this week. Ojemudia has not yet been activated from injured reserve to the active roster, so he will remain on IR.

After activating those three players, the Broncos still have offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and outside linebacker Pita Taumoepenu remains on the Practice Squad/COVID-19 list.

Schlottmann does not currently count against the 53-man roster and Taumoepenu does not count against the 16-player practice squad.

Denver’s offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur, also missed the team’s last game because of COVID-19 protocol. The team has not yet announced if Shurmur is expected to return this week.

After a bye in Week 11, the Broncos will return to action in Week 12 when they host the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High.

[listicle id=667826]

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[listicle id=667786]

Broncos place 2 more players on Reserve/COVID-19 list

Broncos added LB Justin Strnad and CB Michael Ojemudia to the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. They join QB Drew Lock and TE Noah Fant.

The Denver Broncos seem to be having a mini battle with COVID-19.

Last week, the team was without tight end Noah Fant, backup quarterback Drew Lock and backup guard Netane Muti, who all missed Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys while on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Muti has since been cleared from COVID protocol, but the Broncos added two more players to the reserve list on Tuesday. Denver placed inside linebacker Justin Strnad and cornerback Michael Ojemudia on their Reserve/COVID-19 list, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Strnad had been promoting to a starting job after the team lost their top two inside linebackers, but he was benched two weeks ago. Ojemudia is still on injured reserve while recovering from a hamstring injury.

Strnad and Ojemudia will not count against the active roster (Ojemudia already didn’t), joining Lock and Muti on the reserve list.

Last year, the Broncos had 23 known players, coaches and staff members spend time away from the team because of COVID-19.

[listicle id=667375]

[vertical-gallery id=667370]

Free agent linebacker/safety Mark Barron visiting Broncos

The Broncos are looking to add a coverage linebacker.

The Denver Broncos brought in free agent linebacker/safety Mark Barron for a visit, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver needs to add a coverage linebacker after losing rookie Justin Strnad for the season. Strnad, who played safety in high school, was expected to get playing time in passing situations this year before suffering a wrist injury.

Barron (6-2, 230 pounds) entered the league as a first-round draft pick out of Alabama with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. After three seasons with the Bucs, Barron was traded to the St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams.

Barron played with the Rams for five years before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. Pittsburgh cut him earlier this year.

Last season, Barron totaled 74 tackles, three sacks, three pass breakups and one interception. Barron has recorded 657 tackles, 12 sacks, 41 pass breakups, nine interceptions and one safety in his eight-year career.

Barron will have to pass multiple COVID-19 tests before signing. Denver will likely place Strand on injured reserve to make room for Barron.

[vertical-gallery id=646100]

Broncos LB Justin Hollins has a chance to step up on defense

Broncos second-year linebacker Justin Hollins has an opportunity to earn more playing time at training camp.

[jwplayer CdAmc2Qo-ThvAeFxT]

The Broncos are hopeful that Todd Davis (calf) will return before their season opener against the Titans on Sept. 14 but the team needs to have a backup plan in case Davis isn’t ready to play in Week 1.

One candidate to help replace Davis is second-year linebacker Justin Hollins, who was selected by Denver in the fifth round of last year’s draft out of Oregon. Hollins dressed for 15 games last season, totaling 12 tackles, one sack and two pass breakups.

“We were originally planning on leaving him at outside [linebacker] in this camp with the thought of knowing that he might be able to play inside some particularly in nickel in the back of our mind,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said after practice on Aug. 24. “Now with the injuries that we’ve had at ILB, it has kind of forced our hands to do that a little earlier.

“You never know. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Justin and for us. We’re not putting him in there just because we need somebody in there. He’s a guy that has a chance in there. Sometimes when you’re forced to do something both as a coaching staff or as a player it ends up being a blessing. I’m hoping that’s what happens here.”

Josey Jewell is probably the favorite to start if Davis misses any games but Jewell isn’t an ideal coverage linebacker. Hollins has a chance to win the passing down snaps that were expected to go to Justin Strnad before the rookie suffered a season-ending wrist injury.

In addition to Hollins and Jewell, Joe Jones and Josh Watson are also competing for more playing time while Davis is sidelined.

[vertical-gallery id=646100]

Broncos injuries: 11 players held out of practice Monday

The Broncos have been hit hard by injuries in the second week of training camp.

The Broncos have been hit hard by injuries in the second week of training camp.

Linebacker Justin Strnad had wrist surgery and will miss the entire season. In addition to Strnad, 10 other Denver players were held out of Monday’s practice.

WR KJ Hamler (hamstring), ILB Todd Davis (calf), WR Juwann Winfree (groin), CB Michael Ojemudia (quad), TE Austin Fort (knee), DB Alijah Holder (soft tissue), CB De’Vante Bausby (soft tissue), OLB Malik Carney (illness), WR Tim Patrick (soft tissue) and DL Mike Purcell (calf) were also sidelined.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he didn’t anticipate having this many soft tissue injuries during camp.

“I was not expecting that,” Fangio said. “I think there were some flaws in the way we set up the acclimation period along with the other stuff. It doesn’t do anybody any good to whine about it now. We just have to adjust and improvise and react to it, which we did.”

Denver adjusted Monday’s schedule and made it a lighter practice session. The Broncos’ season opener against the Titans is three weeks away so the team still has some time for players to get healthy.

[vertical-gallery id=646116]

Broncos should consider signing LB Nigel Bradham

With two inside linebackers injured, the Broncos should consider signing Nigel Bradham.

With Todd Davis (calf) out at least a week and Justin Strnad (wrist) expected to miss the entire season, the Denver Broncos should consider signing another inside linebacker to add depth and competition.

One candidate the team could consider is 30-year-old veteran Nigel Bradham, who was unexpectedly cut by the New Orleans Saints on Monday. Bradham (6-2, 241 pounds) entered the league as a fourth-round pick out of Florida State with the Buffalo Bills in 2012.

He spent the first four years of his career in Buffalo before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. Bradham was a regular starter in Philadelphia, totaling 348 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, five sacks and 22 pass breakups over the last four seasons.

Bradham was healthy for 12 games last season and recorded 61 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups and one fumble recovery. If signed by Denver, Bradham could serve as a special teams regular and rotational linebacker on defense, subbing in for passing situations.

If the Broncos place Strnad on injured reserve, they will have one open spot on the 80-man offseason roster. Bradham would make sense as a replacement.

[vertical-gallery id=646043]

Broncos LB Justin Strnad (wrist) ruled out for season

Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad will undergo wrist surgery that will likely sideline him for the entire season.

[jwplayer CdAmc2Qo-ThvAeFxT]

Denver Broncos rookie inside linebacker Justin Strnad (wrist) will have surgery and miss the entire year, coach Vic Fangio confirmed after practice Monday. Strnad dislocated his wrist and had “other complications” that will end his season, according to Fangio.

Strnad (6-3, 238 pounds) was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s draft. During his time at Wake Forest, Strnad totaled 244 tackles — including 22.5 tackles for losses — eight sacks, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups.

If not for his injury, Strnad would have had an opportunity to feature on special teams and rotate in on defense this season. Strnad has experience playing safety and his coverage ability would have made him a likely candidate to sub in for Todd Davis in passing situations.

With Strnad now expected to miss the season, Justin Hollins, Josey Jewell, Josh Watson and Joe Jones will be competing for more playing time. Davis and Alexander Johnson are expected to serve as the two starters at inside linebacker.

After losing Strnad, Denver might consider bringing in another linebacker to add depth and competition. One candidate the team may consider is eight-year veteran Nigel Bradham, who was just cut by the New Orleans Saints.

[vertical-gallery id=646043]

Broncos injuries: CB Michael Ojemudia out at least a week

Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia will be sidelined for at least a week with a quad injury.

Camp injuries are piling up for the Broncos.

Star outside linebacker Von Miller (elbow) and tight end Nick Vannett (concussion) were back on the field Sunday but six players were held out and linebacker Justin Strnad suffered a wrist injury during practice.

After the practice session, coach Vic Fangio said he didn’t have an update yet for Strnad’s injury status. Fangio did say cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad) will be out “at least a week, maybe past that.”

Meanwhile, running back Melvin Gordon (ribs), wide receiver KJ Hamler (hamstring), inside linebacker Todd Davis (calf), receiver Juwann Winfree (groin) and tight end Austin Fort (knee) all remained sidelined Sunday.

Fangio said Hamler is “still a ways away” from a potential return. With Hamler and Winfree both sidelined, Denver added receiver depth by signing rookie Cody White.

Gordon is still considered day-to-day.

“He could be out there tomorrow, could not be,” Fangio said of Gordon. “It’s the ribs. Ribs are touchy. He truly is day-to-day.”

[vertical-gallery id=645781]

Broncos sign rookie LB Justin Strnad to 4-year contract

The Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with rookie linebacker Justin Strnad.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with rookie inside linebacker Justin Strnad, the team announced Wednesday.

Strnad’s contract is expected to have a signing bonus of $237,776 with a total value of $3,532,776, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. His signing bonus will be prorated over the four years of his contract for salary cap purposes.

Strnad (6-3, 238 pounds) totaled 244 tackles — including 22.5 tackles for losses — and eight sacks during his four seasons at Wake Forest. He also recorded four interceptions and broke up 10 passes.

Strnad, the team’s fifth-round pick, will compete with Joe Jones, Josey Jewell, Justin Hollins, Tre’ Crawford and Josh Watson for one of the team’s backup linebacker jobs this summer. Todd Davis and Alexander Johnson are expected to serve as the starters.

Denver’s draft class will have combined salary cap hits of $9,980,665 but the net cap hit will be closer to $3,219,217. After signing their draft class, the Broncos will have about $13,837,021 in remaining salary cap space.

[vertical-gallery id=642416]