Moreland spent the previous four seasons working at his alma mater, Western Michigan, where he was the team’s co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. Moreland and Saleh don’t have experience working with one another, but they do have Michigan ties, as Saleh was born and raised in The Great Lakes State and played his college football at Northern Michigan.
With Moreland joining Saleh’s staff, let’s get to know him a bit better.
The Broncos promoted running back LeVante Bellamy from the practice squad to the 53-man roster for Week 2.
With Phillip Lindsay sidelined with a toe injury, the Denver Broncos have promoted undrafted rookie running back LeVante Bellamy from the practice squad to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Denver also promoted outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka from the practice squad to the active roster. Next week, Bellamy and Tuszka and will be eligible to return to the practice squad.
Bellamy (5-10, 190 pounds) signed with the Broncos as a college free agent out of Western Michigan in April. He will likely serve as an emergency third-string running back behind Melvin Gordon and Royce Freeman in Week 2.
During his time at WMU, Bellamy rushed 617 times for 3,720 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He also caught 57 passes for 370 yards and another score as a receiver out of the backfield.
Against the Steelers in Week 2, Gordon will likely serve as the Broncos’ workhorse RB with Freeman rotating in. Bellamy might be a candidate to play on special teams but Denver fans probably shouldn’t expect to see him featured on offense unless Gordon or Freeman suffer an injury.
Broncos have protected four players on the practice squad, including running back LeVante Bellamy.
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The Denver Broncos have protected four players on the practice squad for Week 2, the team announced Wednesday.
Denver protected quarterback Brett Rypien, outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka, safety P.J. Locke and running back LeVante Bellamy. Those players will not be eligible to leave the practice squad to sign with another team’s active roster this week.
The 12 other players on the practice squad can leave the Broncos at any time if offered a position on another team’s 53-man roster.
The unprotected players are offensive lineman Quinn Bailey, offensive tackle Jake Rodgers, outside linebacker Isaiah Irving, wide receiver Trinity Benson, receiver Fred Brown, running back/fullback Jeremy Cox, defensive back Alijah Holder, center Patrick Morris, left tackle Darrin Paulo, linebacker Josh Watson and defensive lineman DeShawn Williams.
Last week, the Broncos protected Rypien, Tuszka, Locke and Rodgers. Tuszka and Locke were called up to the active roster for Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans and then returned to the practice squad.
With Phillip Lindsay injured, Bellamy is a likely candidate to be activated to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Essang Bassey might be a favorite to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
When NFL teams make decisions about roster cuts, a player’s performance on the field is the biggest factor to consider.
That doesn’t mean other factors don’t have any influence on decisions, though. A player’s draft status and contract situation can also influence a team’s decision.
For the Broncos, the bonuses for undrafted free agents could give us a clue about which of those players Denver coveted the most. Sometimes teams get into bidding wars for UDFAs and a player’s large bonus certainly doesn’t guarantee a player will make the team, but it can help.
Running back LeVante Bellamy received a $25,000 signing bonus and $35,000 in guaranteed salary, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Could that be a sign that the Broncos plan to trade or cut Royce Freeman and have Bellamy serve as the third-string RB this season? Maybe.
Cornerback Essang Bassey received a $20,000 signing bonus, according to Klis. Even though he didn’t receive the largest bonus, Bassey might be the most likely UDFA to make Denver’s roster. The team needs more depth at cornerback and Bassey could be a sleeper to watch this summer.
Here’s a look at how Denver’s running back depth chart might shake out.
RB1: Melvin Gordon
The Broncos didn’t give Gordon a two-year, $16 million contract to have him serve as a backup. Gordon will start, sharing carries with Phillip Lindsay.
RB2: Phillip Lindsay
Lindsay is technically being “demoted” but that doesn’t mean he won’t be an important part of the offense. Lindsay should get plenty of touches in 2020 and splitting time with Gordon should help him stay fresh.
Here are highlights of new Broncos running back LeVante Bellamy!
The Denver Broncos signed seven college free agents after the draft, including running back LeVante Bellamy. Here are highlights from Bellamy’s time at Western Michigan:
Bellamy (5-9, 192 pounds) ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 16 times at the combine. He received a $25,000 signing bonus from Denver, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
During his time at Western Michigan, Bellamy rushed 617 times for 3,720 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also caught 57 passes for 370 yards and another touchdown.
Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay are both Pro Bowlers so their roster spots are safe. Bellamy will be competing with Royce Freeman, Khalfani Muhammad and Jeremy Cox for the third-string job on the Broncos’ depth chart. If he doesn’t make the 53-man roster, Bellamy should be able to make the team’s practice squad.
Freeman hasn’t quite lived up to his draft status but he still has an affordable contract and will probably be the favorite to win the No. 3 RB job.
To view all of Denver’s undrafted free agent signings, click here.
The Broncos are signing undrafted free agent running back Levante Bellamy.
The Denver Broncos are signing undrafted free agent running back Levante Bellamy, according to a report from Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
Levante (5-9, 192 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 16 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Levante to Taquan Mizzell, who has spent time with three different teams since entering the NFL in 2017.
“Bellamy should compete for work as a RB3 with change-of-pace speed, but he needs to prove he can improve as a pass-catching option at the next level,” Zierlein wrote of Bellamy on NFL.com before the draft.
During his time at Western Michigan, Bellamy rushed 617 times for 3,720 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. He also caught 57 passes for 370 yards and one touchdown.
In Denver, Bellamy will join a crowded backfield that already includes Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, Khalfani Muhammad and
Jeremy Cox. Bellamy might have to hope for a practice squad spot.
Jets Wire takes a look at six of the top running backs in the 2020 NFL draft that the Jets should target with picks No. 79, 120 or 158.
Even though the Jets have some of the most money dedicated to the running back position in the NFL, it’s still an area of need come draft weekend.
Beyond Le’Veon Bell, who is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, the Jets lack depth. Entering his third season, Trenton Cannon has been nothing more than a special teamer and lost most of last season to injury. While intriguing, undrafted free agent prospect Jalin Moore spent his entire rookie campaign on the non-football injury list. In addition, Kenneth Dixon and Josh Adams have yet to prove worthy of their draft slots and are just names on a depth chart.
It also looks unlikey that Ty Montgomery or Bilal Powell will return.
So yeah, the Jets need to draft a running back, but that won’t happen until the middle rounds at the earliest. Runners such as D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Clyde Edwards-Helaire were intentionally left off this list because the Jets don’t have the roster flexibility to spend a first-round or high-Day 2 pick on a running back.
With that said, let’s take a look at six running backs Gang Green could target during draft weekend.
Zack Moss, Utah
(Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports)
Zack Moss is a very quick back for someone who weighs 223 pounds. He’s a violent runner but also possesses the necessary vision, balance and patience to be an eventual starter at the next level.
Moss returned for his senior season at Utah, spurning the NFL due to knee concerns. He started 12 of 13 games and earned third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference honors as one of the nation’s top rushers. Moss was the Utes’ workhorse, rushing 235 times for 1,416 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also a threat in the passing game, catching 28 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
There have been growing concerns about Moss’ medicals due to the lack of in-person information teams have been able to receive during the pandemic. Moss’ surgically repaired knee checked out well in a recent exam, though, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Moss’ agent told Schefter that all 32 NFL teams have been notified of the results, which could lead to a rise in draft stock.
The cousin of former Jet Santana Moss, the Utah product would be the perfect complement to Le’Veon Bell if New York elects to spend a Day 2 pick on a running back.
Lions 2020 NFL Draft: A running back for (almost) every round for the Detroit Lions to consider
Running back is an interesting position of need for the Detroit Lions. With Kerryon Johnson, Bo Scarbrough and Ty Johnson all returning from the team’s most successful rushing attack since 2013, there are pieces in place for building on the relative success.
Adding another rusher to the committee makes sense for GM Bob Quinn and the Lions. Kerryon Johnson has serious durability concerns, and both Scarbrough and Ty Johnson have more role-specific skills than all-purpose ability in the NFL.
Here is one RB for each round, with one notable exception, for the Lions to consider in the 2020 NFL Draft.
First round
None. Zilch. Nada. There is not a running back worthy of consideration for the Lions in the first round, not even a trade up to No. 32. Drafting a running back in the first round is wasteful, which is why most mock drafts these days don’t project a single RB to go to any team in the first round. There simply is not perceived value in taking one so high in the NFL anymore.
As a consequence of the widely-held belief, the top running backs all get pushed down and make the second and third rounds richer at RB.
The offensive linemen, running backs and special teamers will run drills at the 2020 NFL Combine. Here’s how you can watch and live stream
We’re into the second day of the 2020 NFL Combine drills, which you can stream live on FuboTV. Today will be the running backs, offensive linemen and special teams players all strutting their stuff on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The first day saw the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends run through the gauntlet. While there was no new fastest 40-yard dash time set with Henry Ruggs III running it in 4.27 seconds, today’s group has some players who could be a threat to the record. John Ross set the current fastest 40-yard dash back in 2017 with a 4.22-second time but keep an eye out for Louisiana running back Raymond Calais and Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy as potential record setters.
In today’s group, another standout could very well be Arizona State punter Michael Turk, who put up 25 reps on the bench press yesterday — beating 86 of the 109 total prospects to lift so far. With a shocking display already on record, who knows what Turk will end up doing with the rest of the drills.
The 2020 NFL Combine could also help decide how many running backs end up going in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Many pundits have both Georgia’s D’Andre Swift and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor going in the first round but a bad performance could drop the group down while an impressive showing could have the top back go off the board quickly.
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