Tag: Ray Wilborn

Giants claim LB Ray Wilborn off waivers from Broncos, waive OL Devery Hamilton

The New York Giants have claimed LB Ray Wilborn off waivers from the Denver Broncos and waived/injured OL Devery Hamilton.

After suffering a leg injury during joint practices with the Detroit Lions last week, the Giants have decided to waive offensive lineman Devery Hamilton.

Hamilton was waived with an injury designation and if he clears, he will revert to the team’s reserve/injured list. At that point, if both sides desire it, Hamilton can be released with an injury settlement.

In a corresponding roster move, the Giants were awarded linebacker Ray Wilborn off waivers from the Denver Broncos.

Wilborn originally signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2020. He also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the COVID-19-altered season.

In 2021, Wilborn joined the Green Bay Packers before being released as a part of final cuts in 2022. He then signed with the Broncos after a tryout and made his NFL debut last season.

Wilborn has appeared in two career games and taken all of his snaps (31) on special teams. He has not registered any common statistics.

Pro Football Focus gave Wilborn a 72.3 special teams grade in 2022.

Wilborn is the cousin of former Giants running back Reuben Droughns, who picked up a Super Bowl XLII ring with the team in 2007.

In addition to the Wilborn and Hamilton transactions, the Giants are also reportedly signing offensive lineman Julién Davenport.

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Broncos made 2 roster moves on Monday

The Broncos signed receiver/returner J.J. Koski and cut inside linebacker Ray Wilborn on Monday.

The Denver Broncos made a pair of roster moves on Monday.

First, the team signed wide receiver J.J. Koski to a one-year contract. Koski (6-1, 195 pounds) worked out for Denver last week.

After playing college football at Cal Poly, Koski signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, Koski appeared in five games in 2021.

In his five regular-season appearances, Koski returned two punts for 20 yards and five kickoffs for 89 yards. He played exclusively on special teams (47 snaps) during his time with the Rams.

Koski was cut by L.A. in March and he now lands in Denver, presumably to provide depth at returner. Marvin Mims is expected to serve as the team’s primary returner this season, but the rookie did not play in the team’s preseason opener. Mims dealt with a hamstring injury earlier in camp.

The second move the Broncos made was waiving inside linebacker Ray Wilborn to make room for Koski. The team’s 90-man offseason roster is now full.

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Broncos’ updated ILB depth chart after losing Jonas Griffith

Broncos rookie Drew Sanders might be in line for more playing time following the Jonas Griffith injury.

After losing Jonas Griffith to a season-ending torn ACL, the Denver Broncos signed Austin Ajiake to add some more depth at inside linebacker.

Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell remain the team’s starters at ILB. Behind them, rookie third-round pick Drew Sanders has a good chance to emerge as the top backup ILB following the Griffith injury.

In addition to Sanders, the Broncos also have fourth-year special teams contributor Justin Strnad, undrafted rookie Seth Benson, the newly signed Ajiake and Ray Wilborn (although it’s still unclear if Denver plans to use Wilborn primarily on the inside or on the outside).

Here is our projected updated ILB depth chart going into the first week of preseason.

ILB1 Josey Jewell Drew Sanders Seth Benson
ILB2 Alex Singleton Justin Strnad Ray Wilborn Austin Ajiake

The Broncos are expected to release an official depth chart ahead of their preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals sometime this week.

Broncos roster series: No. 43, LB Ray Wilborn

After appearing in two games last season, Ray Wilborn will hope to win a bigger role with the Broncos this summer.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at first-year linebacker Ray Wilborn, No. 43.

Before the Broncos: Wilborn (6-4, 224 pounds) started his college career at Garden City Community College before transferring to Ball State. After playing as an outside linebacker as a junior in 2018, Wilborn transitioned to safety ahead of his senior season in 2019. In two seasons (24 games) with the Cardinals, Wilborn totaled 166 tackles, 12 pass breakups, four interceptions and three sacks.

After going undrafted in 2020, Wilborn had brief stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers before landing with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. After spending the 2021 season on Green Bay’s practice squad, Wilborn failed to make the Packers’ 53-man roster in 2022.

Broncos tenure: Wilborn signed with Denver’s practice squad midway through the 2022 season after trying out for the team. He was elevated to the active roster for the Broncos’ final two games of the 2022 season and played on special teams. Although he has been in the NFL since 2020, Wilborn is listed as a “first-year” player because of the league’s accrued season rules (at least six regular-season games in the same year).

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Wilborn won’t be a favorite to make the active roster, but he could prove to be a valuable member of the practice squad as a versatile defender who can fill in at multiple positions.

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Broncos’ updated ILB depth chart following the NFL draft

After drafting Drew Sanders, the Broncos have great inside linebacker depth on paper.

ILB1 ILB2 Depth
Josey Jewell Alex Singleton Justin Strnad
Jonas Griffith Drew Sanders Ray Wilborn
Seth Benson

There are no surprises on the Denver Broncos’ projected inside linebacker depth chart following the 2023 NFL draft.

Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton are both returning as projected starters, and the team has quality depth behind them. Drew Sanders joins the club as a third-round pick out of Arkansas and while he projects as a future starter, he seems unlikely to start over Jewell or Singleton in Week 1.

Jonas Griffith is also back after starting eight games as an injury fill-in last year. Having Sanders and Griffith, arguably two starting-caliber LBs, available as backups is great for the team’s depth.

Last year, Denver carried four inside linebackers on its initial 53-man roster. If that’s the plan again this year, Justin Strnad, Ray Wilborn and undrafted rookie Seth Benson would be the odd men out. They could all be candidates for the practice squad, though.

The Broncos will set a 53-man roster in late August.

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Broncos tried out 8 players this week, including a quarterback

Eight players tried out for the Broncos earlier this week, including QB Jarrett Guarantano.

The Denver Broncos worked out eight players on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire. Here’s a quick recap of the players who tried out for the club earlier this week.

  • QB Jarrett Guarantano: Transferred as a graduate from Tennessee to Washington State in 2021 and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent this spring. He failed to make their 53-man roster and began his rookie season on Arizona’s practice squad before being cut last month. 
  • TE Jevon Cottoy: Went straight from high school football in Canada to playing in the Canadian Junior Football League before eventually landing in the CFL. He played WR in Canada but the Broncos worked him out as a TE. 
  • TE Josh Hokit: TE with FB experience who has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Cardinals. Yet to play in a regular season game in the NFL since entering the league in 2020. 
  • TE Briley Moore: Spent his rookie season on injured reserve with the Tennessee Titans after tearing his ACL in 2021. Recently selected by the DC Defenders to play in the upcoming season of the XFL. 
  • WR Jaquarii Roberson: Rookie out of Wake Forest who has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills this year, bouncing between practice squads.
  • WR Kevin Kassis: Signed with Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in the spring. Began the year on Seattle’s practice squad before being cut last week.
  • WR Brandon Lewis: Signed with the Titans as a college free agent in May after playing college football for the Air Force. He was waived during preseason.
  • LB Ray Wilborn: Spent time with the Green Bay Packers earlier this year before working out for Denver. Signed to the Broncos’ practice squad after his tryout on Tuesday.

The seven players who did not sign with Denver might be candidates to sign reserve/future contracts with the Broncos after the season ends.

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Packers activate LB Ray Wilborn from COVID reserve list

The Packers are getting linebacker Ray Wilborn back from the COVID reserve list.

A young defensive player for the Green Bay Packers is returning after a brief stint on the COVID reserve list.

The Packers activated linebacker Ray Wilborn on Wednesday.

Wilborn, a first-year player, was placed on the reserve/COVID list on July 24. He has not participated during the start of training camp but is now eligible to practice.

Wilborn (6-3, 230) spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons in 2020 after going undrafted out of Ball State. He signed a futures deal with the Packers in January.

Wilborn needed to get back on the field. Roster spots are available to be won at inside linebacker and on special teams, but availability is an absolute necessity for young fringe players attempting to make the roster.

The Packers also returned tight end Josiah Deguara on Wednesday. He was activated from the PUP list.

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Packers place first-year LB Ray Wilborn on COVID reserve list

Ray Wilborn’s first training camp with the Green Bay Packers will begin on the COVID reserve list. The team placed the first-year linebacker on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. The team will not reveal whether Wilborn tested positive or was in …

Ray Wilborn’s first training camp with the Green Bay Packers will begin on the COVID reserve list.

The team placed the first-year linebacker on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday.

The team will not reveal whether Wilborn tested positive or was in close contact with an infected individual.

The Packers signed Wilborn to a futures deal in January. He spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers after going undrafted out of Ball State in 2020. A converted safety, he will compete for a roster spot as a linebacker and special teams player when he returns to training camp.

The team’s first practice is Wednesday, July 28.

Steelers bring in punter, linebacker to bolster practice squad

According to the NFL transaction report, the Steelers are looking to address needs at both linebacker and punter.

Déjà vu! On Monday, per the NFL transaction report, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought former punter Jordan Berry in for a visit.

The Steelers also hosted converted safety, Ray Wilborn. A former Atlanta Falcons linebacker, he failed to make their 53-man roster and was cut on Sept. 5.

In Wilborn’s last two seasons at Ball State, he played at outside linebacker and safety and showed skill in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, in 2018 Wilborn allowed the lowest passer rating of any linebacker in the MAC (71.0).

For those who don’t know, the difference between a visit and a tryout is that visits have no workout involved; they’re more conversational in nature. Pittsburgh knows what Berry can do and must have scout info on Wilborn since he didn’t work out.

The linebacker visit is, obviously, not a surprise with Devin Bush out for the season with a torn ACL. As for the punter situation, head coach Mike Tomlin must not be pleased with Dennis Colquitt. Corliss Witman is also on the practice squad.

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