Tag: safety

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.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Chiefs safety comments on the defense’s performance: ‘We’ve got to do better’

Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook comments on the defense’s performance: ‘We’ve got to do better’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense had a rough ending to Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers. The highly praised unit couldn’t protect a two-point lead in the fourth quarter, as Carolina tied the game with a two-point conversion.

Safety Bryan Cook spoke after the game about the defense’s need to improve as the postseason approaches.

“We’ve got to do better. We’re doing good in the red zone but that’s only a third of the field. Overall, we just have to do better.” said Cook. “At the end of the day, we’re all vets in the room for the most part. As I said before, we got to go back to the drawing board, see what we’re doing, and correct it from there.”

Cook and the defense had lapses throughout the game as Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was able to convert on quick releases ahead of blitzes in the second half.

“Whether it’s then, the beginning of a quarter, or the beginning of a game, it comes down to execution. You have to execute,” said Cook. “They’re at a high level, and I know we had times where we didn’t execute at the highest level, and the team exploited that. So, we got to figure that out, go back to the drawing board, and see what we can do.”

Trent McDuffie, Nick Bolton, and Mike Danna were able to get their hands on Young for sacks, but the second-year starter proved elusive under pressure.

Broncos release final injury report: Ben Powers status update

Broncos guard Ben Powers (shoulder) has no injury designation for Sunday’s game. He’s good to go.

After sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Denver Broncos left guard Ben Powers (shoulder) was back at practice on Thursday and Friday.

Powers has no injury status designation on the final injury report, so he has been cleared to play against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Powers started all 17 games for the Broncos last season and the first 11 games this fall. He has been penalized four times and allowed one sack in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

Elsewhere on the injury front, wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) have been ruled out. Denver’s top defensive lineman, Zach Allen (heel) is listed as questionable.

The Broncos’ final injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DL Zach Allen (rest Wed/Thur, heel Fri) Limited Full Limited Questionable
DB Brandon Jones (abdomen) Limited Full Full
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full Full Full
WR Josh Reynolds (hand) Full Full Full Out
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Full Full Full Out
G Ben Powers (shoulder) DNP Limited Full

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox (view the TV map). The Broncos are considered the favorite despite playing on the road.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos release Thursday injury report: Starting guard back at practice

Good news — Broncos guard Ben Powers (shoulder) was back at practice today after sitting out Wednesday’s session.

After sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Denver Broncos left guard Ben Powers (shoulder) was back on the field Thursday on a limited basis.

Powers started all 17 games for the Broncos last season and the first 11 games this fall. He has been penalized four times and allowed one sack in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

Denver’s depth chart lists Calvin Throckmorton as the backup guard behind Powers. Other backup options include Alex Forsyth, Matt Peart and Alex Palczewski.

Elsewhere on the injury front, wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) and running back Tyler Badie (back) are eligible to return from injured reserve, but Badie has not yet returned to practice.

Denver’s complete Thursday injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full Full
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Full Full
WR Josh Reynolds (hand) Full Full
DL Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited Full
DB Brandon Jones (abdomen) Limited Full
G Ben Powers (shoulder) DNP Limited

The Broncos will practice again on Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos injury report: Delarrin Turner-Yell shut down for season

The Broncos did not activate safety Delarrin Turner-Yell during his 21-day window, so he will remain on reserve for the 2024 season.

The Denver Broncos did not activate safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) from the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday, which rules him out for the rest of the 2024 season.

Turner-Yell returned to practice three weeks ago and Wednesday was the deadline to activate him to the 53-man roster. Because he was not activated within his 21-day window, DTY will remain on reserve for the rest of the season (unless the team cuts him).

“We spent a lot of time just going through it,” coach Sean Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “We have a real clear vision for him. [He has] a bright future. [We] had a real good visit. I know it’s difficult. With where we’re at in the season, it just became a challenge relative to managing the roster.”

Next week, the Broncos will have to make a similar decision on linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles). His 21-day window will expire on Nov. 27.

Denver also has two players — wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) and running back Tyler Badie (back) — who are eligible to return from injured reserve. The Broncos will have to make some tough roster decisions with multiple players set to return from injuries in the coming weeks.

Denver’s complete Wednesday injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Full
WR Josh Reynolds (hand) Full
DL Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited
DB Brandon Jones (abdomen) Limited
G Ben Powers (shoulder) DNP

The Broncos will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Justin Simmons gives his take on Broncos QB Bo Nix

Falcons safety Justin Simmons said Broncos quarterback Bo Nix “has gotten tremendously better each and every week.”

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a huge game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, completing 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 38-6 win.

After the game, Falcons safety Justin Simmons — a former Bronco — was asked for his thoughts on Nix.

“I said it in a podcast with Todd Davis leading up to the game — I think the progression from Bo watching tape, leading up to this game from week one to now Week 11 has gotten tremendously better each and every week,” Simmons said. “When you have a really good arm, and you trust your arm, it can be hard in the pocket not to take the deep shot.

“For the most part, we were taking away the deep plays that they wanted to run, and he was just being consistent and checking it down and letting his skill players do what they have done all year. Taking a check down and getting nine or 10 yards, moving the chains and running the ball really well. Just operating at a high level and defensively we couldn’t break that. You can’t expect to come into a hostile environment and expect to win with that defensive effort. It’s not nearly good enough for us.”

Simmons ended the game with five tackles, including one tackle behind the line. He embraced former teammates after the game and thanked Broncos fans for a warm welcome back to Denver. The Broncos never made the playoffs during Simmons’ eight years in Denver. Unfortunately for the safety, the Broncos now appear to be on track to make the postseason in their first year without Simmons.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos players lined up to hug Justin Simmons after beating Falcons

Broncos players lined up to hug Justin Simmons after beating the Falcons on Sunday. Simmons also thanked fans after the game.

After the Denver Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons in a blowout 38-6 win over Sunday, safety Justin Simmons exchanged post-game hugs with many of his former teammates.

Romi Bean of KCNC-TV shared a 30-second video on Twitter/X showing Broncos players lining up to embrace Simmons. The video shows kicker Wil Lutz, running back Javonte Williams, cornerback Riley Moss (who Simmons called “White Lightning”), safety Devon Key and wide receiver Marvin Mims exchanging hugs after the game.

Simmons, 30, played for the Broncos from 2016-2023 before being cut earlier this year. Ahead of Sunday’s game, Simmons dropped a f-bomb on his former team during a pre-game speech. The safety probably didn’t expect cameras to pick up the audio of that pre-game huddle.

After the game, Simmons sang a different tune.

“It was emotional,” Simmons said of returning to Denver. “Obviously, I played the last eight years here. A lot of good memories and it was bittersweet. First, I’m thankful for the warm embrace with the fans and (I) got to see some of my old teammates. It stinks being on the opposite side and coming away with the loss, a bad loss at that.

“We didn’t execute nearly well enough on defense to give us a chance to win this game. That’s a credit to their offense and how they were operating. It makes the whole thing bittersweet, but I did want to say thank you to the fans and the people that I got to see. The staff that I’ve known and gotten to know the previous eight years. I am super grateful and I’m also standing up here with a heavy heart of a really tough loss.”

Simmons ended the day with five tackles, including one tackle behind the line of scrimmage. He was on the opposite end of Javonte Williams’ touchdown run in the second quarter. “I was trying to tell them this boy run hard,” Simmons told Williams after the game.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos release Friday injury report: Starting safety questionable for Sunday

Broncos safety Brandon Jones (abdomen) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (abdomen) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons after being limited in all three days of practice this week.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said “hopefully he’s ready” when asked about Jones after Friday’s practice.

Elsewhere on the injury front, wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger), safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) all fully participated in practice this week but they have been ruled out for Sunday.

Reynolds is eligible to return from injured reserve and Turner-Yell and Sanders are eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list. The Broncos will need to open up roster spots when those three players are activated, but it won’t happen this week.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have a long injury report with eight players ruled out this week.

The Broncos’ complete Friday injury report can be seen below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full Full Full
WR Josh Reynolds (hand) Full Full Full Out
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Full Full Full Out
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) Full Full Full Out
DE Zach Allen (elbow/NIR – rest) Limited Full Full
DB Brandon Jones (abdomen) Limited Limited Limited Questionable

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered slight favorites in Week 11.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Did Jessie Bates take a subtle shot at Bo Nix ahead of Broncos-Falcons game?

Falcons safety Jessie Bates went viral after he said there’s “10 years” of college film of Bo Nix, but that quote needs proper context.

Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates went viral on Friday after aggregation accounts on Twitter/X started re-sharing a video of him saying he’s been watching Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix playing at the college level for the last 10 years.

There’s some context to the quote, though.

Bates started his answer on Nix by saying the Falcons have enough NFL film to study from the QB’s time in the NFL.

“Ten games, usually, that’s enough film to really see a quarterback’s strengths or weaknesses or what they like to do,” Bates said on Friday, via Raphael Haynes of The 3 Point Conversion. “[There’s] kind of multiple years where we can go back and watch what he does. … We’ve been watching him in college for, you know, the past five or six years, however long it was.”

Media members then interjected “Ten years!” with laughter and Bates said, “Ten years, whatever it is.”

It seemed to be a harmless remark from Bates with the “10 years” quip being prompted by media in attendance.

“He’s not [like] a rookie quarterback — seems like he’s a graduate student almost,” Bates continued. “He’s doing a good job … running their offense at a high level.”

The Broncos do not view Nix’s extensive college experience as a negative. Coaches and players both said this offseason that Nix appeared more poised and polished than a typical rookie because of his college experience.

Nix spent five years at the college level before entering the NFL. Atlanta’s rookie quarterback, Michael Penix, spent six years in college.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos bring back recently-cut safety on practice squad

After being cut by the Broncos and clearing waivers, safety Keidron Smith returned to the team on the practice squad.

After being cut by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, safety Keidron Smith returned to the team on Thursday and signed with the practice squad.

Denver had room for Smith on the practice squad after promoting fullback Michael Burton to the 53-man roster on Wednesday.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) led the team in tackles (10) and interceptions (two) during preseason. He also broke up two passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble this summer. After making the 53-man roster, the 25-year-old safety dressed for eight games this season, playing primarily on special teams.

The Broncos now have four safeties remaining on the active roster: Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, Devon Key and JL Skinner. A fifth safety could soon join them as Delarrin Turner-Yell has returned to practice and he is eligible to be activated from the physically unable to perform list.

More roster moves could be on deck for Denver later this week with multiple players ready to return from injured reserve and the PUP list. We will track all of the team’s moves on Broncos Wire.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]