Tag: Michael Ojemudia

Broncos injuries: Graham Glasgow should return next week

Broncos guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) is expected to return to practice next week.

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee), guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) and outside linebacker Von Miller were among six players who were held out of Wednesday’s practice. Denver coach Vic Fangio provided a status update for those players during his post-practice Zoom call.

“Von just had basically a vet day today,” Fangio said after practice. “I gave him the day off. Chubb’s the same. He’s getting better. He’ll be back out there soon. [Glasgow]’s getting better. I think we’ll see him next week out there.”

Meanwhile, Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad), defensive back Alijah Holder (soft tissue) and wide receiver KJ Hamler (hamstring) were limited on Wednesday.

“They went through practice on a limited basis, did some individual,” Fangio said. “It’s kind of the natural progression, see how they did today and evaluate it for tomorrow and Friday.”

Ojemudia, Holder and Hamler returning — even on a limited basis — seems like a great sign. Denver has 12 more days to get healthy before Week 1.

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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.

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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.”

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Broncos rookie CB Michael Ojemudia agrees to 4-year contract

The Broncos have agreed to terms with rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia on a four-year contract.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia, the team announced Tuesday.

Ujemudia’s contract is expected to have a signing bonus of $1,015,560 with a total value of $4,310,560, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. His signing bonus will be prorated over the four years of his contract for salary cap purposes.

Ojemudia (6-1, 200 pounds) totaled 125 tackles and six interceptions during his four seasons at Iowa. He also broke up 17 passes and recovered one fumble in college. Ojemudia had a career year last season, recording 52 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups.

Ojemudia, one of the team’s third-round picks, will compete for the Broncos’ No. 2 cornerback job this summer. If Bryce Callahan ends up playing in the slot, Ojemudia might start across from A.J. Bouye in 2020.

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.

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Broncos are ‘really eager’ to see Michael Ojemudia on the field

“He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie,” Ed Donatell said of Michael Ojemudia.

After being selected by the Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft, Michael Ojemudia will likely serve as one of Denver’s top three cornerbacks this season, behind A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan.

“We’re delighted to have Michael,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on June 11. “Michael brings size [6-1, 200 pounds], he brings speed [4.45 40-yard dash] and he can judge a ball down the field deep. Those are very important parts to a DB. He’s really on schedule as a tackler and a hitter, which we know is very important to the Broncos’ style of defense.”

Depending on if Callahan lines up in the slot or on the outside, Ojemudia might end up starting across from Bouye. That would be a tall task for the rookie and Donatell wasn’t ready to declare Ojemudia’s role just yet.

“How he fits in — we want him to do as much as he can as a rookie,” Donatell said. “Time will only tell that. What I can tell you is he’s really, really in the top part of the class as far as his learning curve. He’s picked up our scheme in a virtual sense as about as good as you’ll find in a rookie. He’s off to a good start. We’re just really eager to get him on the field and get started coaching him in a physical sense.”

During his final three years at Iowa, Ojemudia totaled 120 tackles, six interceptions, 16 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He will make his on-field debut in orange and blue in the Broncos’ preseason opener against the 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 15.

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Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Cornerback

Which cornerbacks will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster this season?

As we continue our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at cornerback.

Previously, we predicted the QB, RB, TE, WR, OL and DL depth charts.

Here’s a way-too-early projection for the team’s cornerback room:

Cornerback Slot Cornerback 
A.J. Bouye Duke Dawson Jr. Bryce Callahan
Davontae Harris De’Vante Bausby Michael Ojemudia
Essang Bassey Shakial Taylor Isaac Yiadom

There’s a chance that Callahan could end up being the slot cornerback, like he was with the Chicago Bears. Callahan spent time on the outside last spring, though, and Denver liked Dawson as a slot cornerback before he was injured last season.

Bouye is a locked-in starter — Callahan and Ojemudia might be the favorites to start across from him, depending on how the slot situation shakes out. Harris and Bausby had stretches of strong play last year so they should have decent chances to make the team again this season.

Bassey was one of the top undrafted free agents available in April and he could be a sleeper to make the 53-man roster. Yiadom, a former third-round pick, will face fierce competition to make the team. Taylor will also face long odds, but he could make the squad with a strong training camp.

The Broncos carried six cornerbacks on their initial roster in 2019.

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A.J. Bouye willing to help teach Broncos rookie CB Michael Ojemudia

Broncos rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia will learn under veteran A.J. Bouye.

If the Broncos have Bryce Callahan play in the slot this season, third-round draft pick Michael Ojemudia might end up starting across from A.J. Bouye. That would be a tall task for a rookie — learning from a veteran like Bouye could help Ojemudia adjust to a big role in the NFL.

“I really didn’t know much about him,” Bouye said on May 14. “One of the coaches sent me his number and I reached out to him, texted him and congratulated him. I was trying to see where he was at. At the time, I was hoping he was near. I was going to try and get some work in with him. Just in the meeting rooms, you can see already that he is a very intelligent guy. He’s a smart guy and a very confident guy.

“We have a lot of corners. There is going to be competition, but no matter who is out there you know they’re going to be ready. Michael, I will help teach him things if he has any questions. I’ll be picking his brain apart too because we can always learn from each other, no matter first year or even me going into Year 8. I’m definitely looking forward to that.”

During his time at Iowa, Ojemudia totaled 125 tackles, six interceptions and 17 pass breakups. He will wear jersey No. 23 in Denver.

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Watch the moment Broncos GM John Elway called Michael Ojemudia

Here’s video of when John Elway told Michael Ojemudia he was going to be a Bronco.

The Denver Broncos selected cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday evening. Here’s video of when Ojemundia first heard from GM John Elway and coach Vic Fangio:

Ojemundia will likely serve as Denver’s No. 3 cornerback behind projected starters A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan this season.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos CB Michael Ojemudia

Click here to watch highlights of new Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia!

The Denver Broncos selected cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday evening. Here are highlights from Ojemundia’s time at Iowa:

Ojemudia will likely serve as Denver’s No. 3 cornerback behind A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan this season. He can also play on special teams.

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Twitter reacts to Broncos drafting CB Michael Ojemudia

Here’s how Twitter reacted when the Broncos drafted Michael Ojemudia.

The Denver Broncos selected Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday evening. Here’s a sampling of how Twitter reacted to the news:

Denver has two more picks (Nos. 83 and 95) to use in the third round.

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