Tag: P.J. Locke

Broncos turn to Caden Sterns with Justin Simmons injured

Caden Sterns will be asked to step up on defense following Justin Simmons’ injury.

Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons will miss at least the next four games after being placed on injured reserve with a quad injury.

Denver will now turn to Caden Sterns in the secondary.

The second-year safety started two games last year in the place of an injured Kareem Jackson, and he was a rotational defensive back before that. As a rookie last season, Sterns totaled 28 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two sacks.

Jackson said Wednesday that it’s hard to replace someone like Simmons, but he’s confident in Sterns.

“We pride ourselves on having the next guy available and ready,” Jackson said. “Caden Sterns has played a ton of ball in this league in such a short time, so I think he’s very ready for the situation and the opportunity. I think he’ll come in and I think he’ll play great.”

Sterns is expected to start across from Jackson against the Houston Texans on Sunday. P.J. Locke will also be available to rotate in on defense.

“He’s a smart player,” Jackson said of Sterns. “We’ve used him in a bunch of different roles. For him to step in and play safety, he did it a little bit for me last year when I was out, so like I said, he has a ton of experience. I expect him to step in and play great.”

With Jackson scheduled to become a free agent next year, Sterns could eventually become a full-time starter for the Broncos. Fans will now get a four-game look at the young defensive back in a starting role.

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McTelvin Agim, a Texas native, talks about Juneteenth holiday

Juneteenth became a federal holiday last year.

An 11th federal holiday was added on June 19, 2021.

Juneteenth was first recognized last year after president Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. June 19, 1865 marks the day when African American slaves in Galveston, Texas, were among the last to be told they had been freed.

For reference, 1865 was over two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery and two months after the Civil War ended.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger delivered General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas. In other words, he informed residents of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and that the army now intended to enforce the law in the state.

Third-year defensive lineman McTelvin Agim is a Texas native.

“When it was explained to me, it was that, us, as slaves, we were sold so many times we lost contact with a lot of our family,” Agim said in an interview with DenverBroncos.com. “So when we were finally able to have our freedom, they reached out to those families and got together and then celebrated being able to be around each other. So when I found out the meaning of that, it just put Juneteenth and our family reunions in a whole different light for me.”

Agim added that Juneteenth celebrations typically include “old-school music” playing at barbecues. Celebrations usually take place at grandmother’s house or the park. While kids are running around, older family members play spades or dominoes.

To learn more about Juneteenth, check out the league’s official website.

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Broncos sign 3 players to 1-year tenders, waive an offensive tackle

The Broncos signed OLB Malik Reed, QB Brett Rypien and DB P.J. Locke to 1-year tenders and waived OT Cody Conway.

The Denver Broncos kicked off their (voluntary) offseason program on Monday with a few housekeeping transactions.

First, the Broncos signed outside linebacker Malik Reed to a one-year right of first refusal tender worth $2.433 million, the team announced. Other teams will be allowed to make Reed an offer but Denver will get an opportunity to match any offer the outside linebacker receives.

After that, the Broncos signed quarterback Brett Rypien and safety P.J. Locke to their one-year exclusive rights free agent tenders. These signings were mostly formalities because ERFA players have no leverage in negotiations.

Rypien is now set to earn $965,000 this season and Locke will receive $895,000, according to OverTheCap.com.

Denver also waived offensive tackle Cody Conway, who missed last season after suffering a torn ACL during training camp. After parting ways with Conway, the Broncos’ remaining offensive tackles are Garett Bolles, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Tom Compton, Quinn Bailey, Drew Himmelman and Casey Tucker.

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Broncos tender 3 players, let 2 players hit free agency

Brett Rypien returns, Diontae Spencer walks. The Broncos’ free agency moves have begun.

The Denver Broncos have placed one-year tenders on quarterback Brett Rypien, inside linebacker Jonas Griffith and safety P.J. Locke, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

The Broncos did not, however, tender wide receiver/returner Diontae Spencer or backup offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann. Spencer and Schlottmann are now set to become unrestricted free agents.

Linebacker Natrez Patrick running back Adrian Killins also seem unlikely to receive tenders from Denver. Meanwhile, the Broncos will presumably try to tender or re-sign linebacker Micah Kiser, defensive lineman DeShawn Williams and edge defender Malik Reed.

Rypien is the team’s backup QB at the moment behind new starter Russell Wilson. Denver will likely add at least one more QB this offseason.

Griffith and Locke are poised to serve as key special teams players for the Broncos this season while providing depth on defense.

The deadline to place tenders on restricted and exclusive rights free agents is Wednesday afternoon. Any RFA and ERFA players who are not tendered before Wednesday’s deadline will become unrestricted free agents.

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Broncos protect 4 players on practice squad, including a running back

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.

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Broncos confirm several roster moves

Broncos promoted cornerback De’Vante Bausby to the active roster.

The Denver Broncos announced several roster moves Wednesday.

After placing outside linebacker Von Miller on injured reserve, the Broncos have promoted cornerback De’Vante Bausby from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, the team confirmed.

Bausby will be filling Miller’s roster spot on the active roster after cornerback A.J. Bouye dislocated his shoulder. Bouye could be sidelined for several weeks so Denver needed to add more depth at cornerback.

To fill Bausby’s former spot on the practice squad, the Broncos signed outside linebacker Isaiah Irving, who played under coach Vic Fangio with the Chicago Bears. Irving will provide more depth as an edge defender while Miller is sidelined.

Denver also confirmed that outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka and safety P.J. Locke reverted back to the practice squad after being activated for Monday’s game. The Broncos will likely activate Tuszka or Irving this weekend to have a fourth outside linebacker against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.

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Broncos promote Derrek Tuszka and P.J. Locke from practice squad

Broncos will add Derrek Tuszka and P.J. Locke to the active roster ahead of Monday’s game against the Titans.

The Denver Broncos will promote outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka and safety P.J. Locke from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of tonight’s game against the Tennessee Titans, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

With Von Miller sidelined with an ankle injury, Tuszka will provide depth at outside linebacker behind Bradley Chubb, Jeremiah Attaochu and Malik Reed. Tuszka is a rookie pass rusher who totaled 13.5 sacks as a senior at NDSU last fall.

Locke will serve as the team’s fourth-string safety behind Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson and Trey Marshall. Denver only carried three true safeties on the active roster so Locke was called up to provide more depth.

Even after promoting Locke, the Broncos might still have cornerback Duke Dawson serve as a rotational safety and nickelback.

Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton (shoulder) is “a long-shot to play,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Fellow receiver KJ Hamler (hamstring) is also unlikely to play, leaving the Broncos with five healthy WRs: Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, DaeSean Hamilton, Diontae Spencer and Tyrie Cleveland.

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Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Safety   

Which safeties will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

As we wrap up our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at the linebacker position.

Previously, we predicted QB, RB, TE, WR, OL, DL, LB and CB depth charts for the Broncos. Here’s a look at our safety prediction:

Justin Simmons Kareem Jackson
Douglas Coleman III Trey Marshall
Alijah Holder P.J. Locke
Kahani Smith

Last year, Denver carried two starters and two backup safeties on the initial 53-man roster. That will probably be the strategy again this year.

Marshall is the most experienced backup on the roster and he is the favorite to replace Will Parks as the team’s new No. 3 safety. That leaves four safeties competing for just one remaining spot in the back of the secondary.

Holder will have an experience edge over Coleman, which might give him an advantage in the competition. If he doesn’t make the active roster, Coleman will likely make the practice squad.

Right now, though, Coleman might be the favorite for the No. 4 job.

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