9 ex-Broncos players involved in NFL’s conference title games

Nine ex-Broncos players will be involved in the NFL’s conference championship games this weekend.

The NFL’s conference title games this weekend will feature nine former Denver Broncos players.

First up is the NFC Championship game at 1:00 p.m. MT on Sunday, Jan. 26. That matchup features the Washington Commanders taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders have backup quarterback Jeff Driskel and international defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi (on reserve).

After that, the AFC Championship game is set for 4:30 p.m. MT on Sunday, Jan. 26. That game will feature the Buffalo Bills facing the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City’s offense features running back Samaje Perine and receiver/returner Montrell Washington (on the practice squad).

The Bills have quite a collection of former Broncos, headlined by pass rusher Von Miller. Buffalo also employs punter Sam Martin, receiver KJ Hamler (practice squad), safety Kareem Jackson (practice squad) and receiver Jalen Virgil (practice squad).

No matter which two teams advance on Sunday, at least two ex-Broncos will suit up for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in Feb. 9.

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Von Miller embraced Broncos players after knocking them out of playoffs

Von Miller embraced Garett Bolles and Courtland Sutton after the Bills knocked the Broncos out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

After the Buffalo Bills knocked the Denver Broncos out of the NFL playoffs with a 31-7 win on Sunday, pass rusher Von Miller showed love to several former teammates.

Miller embraced left tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver Garett Bolles — the two longest-tenured Broncos — and then took a photo with them.

Here’s video, from KOA Radio’s TikTok page:

Miller also took a photo with cornerback Pat Surtain, safety P.J. Locke and current Bills safety Kareem Jackson:

Miller, of course, played for the Broncos from 2011-2021. Before Sunday’s game, Denver’s last playoff appearance was a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Miller took home Super Bowl MVP honors that day with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Miller has made it clear that he still has love for the Broncos and their fans, and he plans to one day return to Denver. Miller and the Bills will now move on to face the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the 2024-2025 NFL playoffs.

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Von Miller isn’t the only former Bronco who now plays for the Bills

Von Miller is one of four former Broncos who now play for the Bills.

When the Denver Broncos face the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, they will play against Von Miller, who helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Miller is the most notable ex-Denver player on Buffalo’s roster, but he’s not alone. The Bills also have three other ex-Broncos on their practice squad.

Buffalo safety Kareem Jackson has appeared in two games this season, recording four tackles. He spent 2019-2023 in Denver.

Bills wide receiver KJ Hamler is yet to appear in a regular season game with Buffalo, but he played in 23 games with the Broncos from 2020-2022.

Fellow receiver Jalen Virgil has dressed for seven games with the Bills in 2024, but he is yet to record a reception. He has played 83 snaps on special teams this season, returning one kickoff for 21 yards. Virgil played in Denver from 2022-2023.

Sunday’s game in Buffalo will be nationally televised on CBS.

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Sean Payton pleased with Broncos’ safety play this season

“I like how we’re playing [at safety],” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Last year, the Denver Broncos went into the season with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson as their starting safeties. Caden Sterns was listed as a co-starter with Jackson, but he suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 1. That injury left P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner as the team’s backup safeties in 2023.

Simmons played at his typical Pro Bowl level in 2023, but Jackson served two suspensions and was eventually released. Locke ended up starting eight games as a fill-in starter last season.

After parting ways with Jackson late in the 2023 season and releasing Simmons this spring, Denver signed Brandon Jones during free agency. Jones has been starting across from Locke this year, and they have been a dynamic safety duo for the Broncos.

Jones has recorded 79 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 11 games.

“We’re better overall on the backend at that position than we were a year ago,” coach Sean Payton said of the safety positon. “We’ve played a few different guys back there, but I like how we’re playing. We’re communicating. Our guys on defense, Vance [Joseph] and Jim Leonhard and all those guys are doing a fantastic job. We’re definitely I would say further along, and it was a good performance by those guys [Sunday].”

Denver’s backup safeties behind Jones and Locke are Devon Key and Skinner. Payton clearly feels that the Jones-Locke-Key-Skinner combination is better than the Simmons-Jackson-Locke-Turner-Yell rotation from last year. (Jackson, as one might expect, disagreed with that assessment.)

Jones and Locke will look to build on their impressive campaign when the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.

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Kareem Jackson was not pleased with Sean Payton’s latest comments

Sean Payton said the Broncos are “better overall” at safety this year than they were last season. Kareem Jackson clearly disagrees.

During his conference call with reporters on Monday, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the team’s current safety duo of Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke.

During his response, Payton said, “We’re better overall on the backend at that position than we were a year ago.” Last year, Denver’s starting safeties going into the season were Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.

Jackson saw Payton’s quote on Twitter/X and it’s safe to say he doesn’t agree with the coach’s stance.

🤣🤣 if it’s one thing I’ve learned in this league after being in it for 15 years, some of these coaches will say any damn thing!” Jackson tweeted on Monday. “Even if it’s them putting their foot in their mouth lol!! S/o PJ and B Jones cause I love what they doing this year!! Keep going fellas 🫡”

Locke became a fill-in starter for the Broncos last year while Jackson served two separate suspensions. After Jackson returned from his second suspension, Payton cut him.

Jackson, 36, finished last season with the Houston Texans and he is now on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad.

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Ex-Broncos safety Kareem Jackson reacts to ‘pathetic’ missed facemask on ‘TNF’

“NFL should be ashamed the refs are terrible every week smh,” Kareem Jackson wrote on social media after a missed facemask on ‘TNF.’

The Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football this week ended with a controversy.

Trailing by eight points late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings got the ball back deep in their own territory. Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold was then sacked in his own end zone to seal a 30-20 loss for the Vikings.

Rams pass rusher Byron Young committed a blatant facemask penalty on the sack, but the official did not throw a flag, sparking much controversy.

Among those who chimed in on the incident was former Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson.

“NFL should be ashamed the refs are terrible every week smh,” Jackson tweeted.

Jackson, 36, played for the Broncos from 2019-2023. He is now on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills.

“Referee combine is needed smh. How you gonna test the players but not the mf watching them 🤣🤣🤣,” Jackson wrote in a follow-up tweet.

Jackson was repeatedly fined and suspended twice for his illegal hits with the Broncos last season.

“And bro will go home with no consequences and all his money and in line to call a game next week,” Jackson wrote. “But the players take on all the consequences. For hits, PI’s, etc …. This [expletive] pathetic smh.”

Jackson was certainly not alone in his criticism of the missed call.

“Can’t see a facemask 3 feet in front of them, but we want refs to decide what is and isn’t a “hip drop” tackle in real time. 😂😂” J.J. Watt tweeted.

Young appeared to expect a penalty based on his reaction after the play. He took to Twitter/X following the game with a funny response.

With the win, the Rams improved to 3-4. The Vikings dropped to 5-2. The Broncos are not scheduled to play either team this season.

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Broncos name team captains, and rookie QB Bo Nix makes history

Bo Nix is the Broncos’ first rookie to be named a team captain since Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little in 1967.

The Denver Broncos have named their six team captains for the 2024 NFL season, coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday.

On offense, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, guard Quinn Meinerz and rookie quarterback Bo Nix got the nod. On defense, cornerback Pat Surtain and inside linebacker Alex Singleton were named captains. Kicker Wil Lutz will serve as the special teams captain. The captains were elected by teammates this week.

Nix makes history as the team’s first rookie team captain since Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little in 1967. This will also mark the first time Payton has had a rookie captain on his team.

Denver’s team captains last year were Sutton, quarterback Russell Wilson, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson and punter Riley Dixon. Wilson, Simmons and Jackson are no longer on the team.

Two years ago, the team’s captains were Wilson, Sutton, Simmons, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and kicker Brandon McManus. Of the team’s 2022 team captains, Sutton is the only one who remains on the team.

This fall will mark Sutton’s fourth straight season as a team captain.

The Broncos are preparing for a Week 1 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8. Denver is considered a 5.5-point road undergoing going into Sunday’s game in Seattle.

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20 ex-Broncos players have signed with NFL practice squads

A group of former Broncos including Kareem Jackson, KJ Hamler, Caden Sterns and Tim Patrick have landed on NFL practice squads this week.

After the dust settled following NFL roster cuts, clubs have started filling their practice squads. So far, 20 former Denver Broncos players have signed with practice squads this week, including ex-players from past years.

Here’s the list:

  1. RB Mike Boone (Carolina Panthers)
  2. RB Nate McCrary (Green Bay Packers)
  3. WR Tim Patrick (Detroit Lions)
  4. WR Brandon Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
  5. WR Jalen Virgil (Buffalo Bills)
  6. WR KJ Hamler (Buffalo Bills)
  7. WR Montrell Washington (Kansas City Chiefs)
  8. OL Elijah Wilkinson (Atlanta Falcons)
  9. OL Sam Mustipher (Los Angeles Chargers)
  10. OL Henry Byrd (Minnesota Vikings)
  11. OL Sebastian Gutierrez (San Francisco 49ers)
  12. DT McTelvin Agim (Indianapolis Colts)
  13. DL Elijah Garcia (New York Giants)
  14. DL Kyle Peko (Detroit Lions)
  15. DL PJ Mustipher (Arizona Cardinals)
  16. DT Haggai Ndubuisi (Washington Commanders)
  17. OLB Thomas Incoom (Carolina Panthers)
  18. CB Art Green (New York Giants)
  19. DB Kareem Jackson (Buffalo Bills)
  20. DB S Caden Sterns (Philadelphia Eagles)

So far, only two players cut by Denver this week — offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs (New England Patriots) and running back Samaje Perine (Kansas City Chiefs) — have landed on an active roster.

As for their own practice squad, the Broncos have filled 16 of 17 spots so far. The final spot should be filled soon.

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Buffalo Bills sign two former Alabama players to practice squad

The Buffalo Bills finalized their practice squad on Wednesday. It features two former Alabama players.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills parted ways with multiple players including former Alabama safety Kareem Jackson and Tyrell Shavers. One day later, the Bills signed both Jackson and Shavers to their practice squad.

Shavers was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bills following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft. He spent last season as a member of the team’s practice squad. During the preseason, Shavers hauled in four receptions for 28 yards. Despite not having much production, many expected Shavers to be a part of the 53-man roster. Instead, he will be a part of the practice squad for now.

On the other hand, the Bills signed Jackson several weeks ago. The veteran safety has spent time with both the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans over the course of his 14-year career. The former first-round pick has had a solid NFL career. He will have to work his way up from the practice squad this time around. However, it is something that Jackson should be able to do sooner rather than later.

Eventually, I anticipate that both Shavers and Jackson will be a part of the Bills active roster.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

Bills announce full practice squad following roster cuts

#Bills announce full practice squad following roster cuts:

The Buffalo Bills initial roster is now fully set.

The team already announced their initial 53-man roster. The deadline for that was at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Those not included were subject to waivers and those who cleared had a chance to land on Buffalo’s practice squad.

That waiver wire was set for noon on Wednesday and has come and gone. Now we know who did get an offer to join the 16-man taxi squad.

Here is the Bills’ full initial practice squad:

  • QB Mike White
  • – RB Frank Gore Jr. 
  • WR Deon Cain
  • WR KJ Hamler
  • WR Tyrell Shavers
  • TE Zach Davidson
  • OL Richard Gouraige
  • OL Will Clapp
  • OL Mike Edwards
  • DE Kingsley Jonathan
  • DE Kameron Cline
  • DT Eli Ankou
  • DT Branson Deen
  • CB Daequan Hardy
  • CB Te’Cory Couch
  • S Kareem Jackson

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