The Broncos will face Joe Flacco, Eric Tomlinson, Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland in their preseason opener against the Colts.
The Denver Broncos will face four of their former players when they go on the road to take on the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener on Sunday.
The Colts have four ex-Broncos on offense, all of them backups. Joe Flacco is their No. 2 quarterback behind starter Anthony Richardson. Flacco went 2-6 as Denver’s starter in 2019.
When Flacco enters Sunday’s game, his targets will include tight end Eric Tomlinson and wide receivers Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland.
Tomlinson served as a blocking tight end for the Broncos in 2022. Winfree was picked by Denver in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Colorado. He dressed for three games with the Broncos but did not draw any targets in those contests.
Cleveland was picked by Denver in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Florida. He spent three years with the Broncos, hauling in eight receptions for 91 yards in 23 appearances.
Former Broncos with the Colts
QB Joe Flacco
TE Eric Tomlinson
WR Juwann Winfree
WR Tyrie Cleveland
We asked Colts Wire five questions about Indy ahead of Sunday’s preseason game against the Broncos.
Ahead of the Denver Broncos‘ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, we asked Paul Bretl of Colts Wire five questions about Indy and Sunday’s matchup. Check out our questions and Paul’s answers below.
1. Should we expect to see Anthony Richardson and Indy’s other starters on Sunday?
(Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Yes, after Friday’s practice, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that the Colts’ starters, including quarterback Anthony Richardson, will play for a series or two. Steichen would also add that there will be a couple of starters who don’t play. This will be Richardson’s first game since Week 5 of last season. When Steichen was asked what he wanted to see in the first preseason game, he mentioned the importance of getting communication right because if that element is off with even one player, the entire play can go wrong.
2. The Colts have a pair of ex-Broncos WRs in Juwann Winfree and Tyrie Cleveland — do you think they’ll end up on the 53-man roster?
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
I think both those players will be on the outside looking in. During the draft, the Colts added AD Mitchell and Anthony Gould, making for a more crowded receiver room. Those incoming rookies join Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, already accounting for five roster spots. Returning from injury is Ashton Dulin, who has been a core special teams contributor and someone who has proven to be a reliable presence on offense if the Colts are in a pinch.
3. Who is an intriguing player on Indy’s roster bubble that we should keep an eye on this week?
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Perhaps not on the roster bubble, but all eyes in Indianapolis are on the free safety position. This was a position that struggled last season and during the offseason, no outside additions were made to bolster the competition. We’ve seen a heavy rotation so far, with Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and even linebacker/strong safety Ronnie Harrison getting some starting snaps in practice. Nearly three weeks into training camp, there doesn’t seem to be any clarity around who will be starting next to Julian Blackmon come Week 1. Many Colts fans would like to see the team sign former Bronco Justin Simmons to provide some stability.
4. If you could steal one player from Denver and gift him to the Colts, who would you pick and why?
(Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
Cornerback Pat Surtain. Somewhat similar to safety, this is another position for the Colts that has some question marks coming into the upcoming season–although, unlike at safety, this positional battle is taking shape. The addition of Surtain would provide a massive boost to a position group on the boundary that didn’t make enough plays on the ball in 2023 and surrendered too many big plays.
5. The Broncos and Indy will face off again in Week 15 this fall. Looking way too far ahead, what’s your early prediction for that game?
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
As of now, I’ll take the Colts. I’m bullish on them this season and a big reason why is because of their offensive and defensive lines. In the trenches on both sides of the ball, I believe there is the potential for the Colts to have top-tier units, and as the old saying goes, if you can control the line of scrimmage, you can control the game. I also like the team that has been built around Anthony Richardson on offense, with the offensive line, Pittman, Downs, Mitchell, and Jonathan Taylor, which as GM Chris Ballard noted before training camp, means that Richardson won’t have to do it all as a still relatively inexperienced player.
To read our answers to Colts Wire’s questions, click here.
Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on NFL Network. After traveling to Indy in Week 1, Denver will host the Green Bay Packers next week. To view the Broncos’ complete preseason schedule, click here.
Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.
I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.
2023 Season Review
Cleveland joined the Colts’ practice squad in mid-October of last season and didn’t see any regular season snaps with the team. A former 2020 seventh-round pick by Denver, Cleveland bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster during his first three seasons with the Broncos.
Cleveland began 2023 with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was waived prior to roster cutdowns and would then join the Colts a few months later.
With the Broncos from 2020-2022, Cleveland caught eight of his 15 targets for 91 yards, lining up primarily on the boundary. He also played 319 special teams snaps during that span and, at times, handled kick return duties as well, averaging 21.0 yards per return on 12 attempts.
2024 Season Preview
With the additions of AD Mitchell and Anthony Gould in the draft, the Colts’ wide receiver room quickly became somewhat crowded. Between the two rookies, along with Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, there are likely five roster spots already accounted for.
According to Sumer Sports, nearly 96 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps last season came with three or fewer receivers on the field. This means that keeping six receivers may not be necessary, but if Shane Steichen does go that route, special teams play—where Cleveland does have experience—will be crucial in determining that roster spot.
Depending on how Cleveland performs this summer, he could be a prime practice squad candidate.
The Colts made 14 roster moves Monday to begin the 2024 offseason.
The Indianapolis Colts officially got their offseason underway Monday by making several roster moves, including the signings of nine players to Reserve/Future contracts, the team announced.
Along with the nine futures contracts the team signed, all of which include players from the practice squad, the Colts also signed four players to one-year contract extensions while waiving another player. So in total, the Colts made 14 moves.
As is typical protocol following the end of the regular season, the Colts will be preparing to expand their roster to 90 players for the offseason. Much of that includes signing players to futures contracts.
The expansion of the roster to 90 players doesn’t go into effect until the start of the new league year, which is March 13. That’s why it’s technically a reserve contract. It is essentially stating the player will be on the 90-man roster when the time comes.
There is no limit to how many futures contracts the Colts have as long as they are within the 90-man limit when the new league year rolls around.
Here’s a look at the 14 moves the Colts made to begin the offseason:
The Indianapolis Colts made several roster moves both to the active roster and practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.
Following the news that defensive tackle Grover Stewart will miss the next six games due to suspension, the team added a player to the active roster while making a few changes to the practice squad.
Here’s a look at the moves the Colts made Tuesday:
The Philadelphia #Eagles have made 10 roster moves ahead of the final week of the preseason
The Eagles made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, as the team signed Robert Cooper, Marvin Wilson, Caleb Sanders, Tyreek Maddox-Williams, and Quinton Bell, Waived/Injured Tyrie Cleveland, Noah Elliss, Zech McPhearson, and released Greedy Williams and Ty Zentner.
#Eagles DT Moro Ojomo carted off with neck injury in preseason matchup vs. Browns
It has not been a good night for the Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) against the Cleveland Browns (1-1), as injuries have piled up for the home team. Tyrie Cleveland, who went down in the third quarter, and now defensive tackle Moro Ojomo has been carted off the field with a neck injury in the fourth quarter with a little over 10 minutes remaining.
Injury Update: DT Moro Ojomo is out with a neck injury. He has movement in all of his extremities.
Ojomo was injured while trying to chase down Browns’ quarterback Kellen Mond.
A seventh-round draft pick out of Texas, Ojomo is one of the players fighting for a roster spot.
Moro Ojomo is now being carted off the field after being placed on a stretcher but was able to give a wave as he was carted off the field. Brutal injury game for the Eagles.
We’re previewing the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver position after the first wave of free agency and ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
The Eagles have made several roster moves that added depth to critical positions, but wide receiver is one under-the-radar spot that could be upgraded.
Philadelphia has one of the top pass-catching duos in the NFL with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the depth behind the two superstars leaves much to be desired.
The Eagles haven’t addressed the position in free agency and could look to use one of their six picks on a dynamic pass catcher in the second or third rounds.
With NFL draft prep underway, here’s an off-season look at Philadelphia’s top-heavy wide receiver position.
With the NFL offseason set to begin, the Philadelphia Eagles just announced the signing of 11 players to reserve/futures deals ahead of NFL free agency and the Scouting Combine
Eagles have signed the following players:
WR Devon Allen WR Tyrie Cleveland DB Mario Goodrich DE Tarron Jackson T Fred Johnson T Roderick Johnson DE Matt Leo G Sua Opeta G Tyrese Robinson LB Davion Taylor WR Greg Ward DT Marvin Wilson pic.twitter.com/U8SQJ50Y2Q
With the NFL offseason set to begin, the Philadelphia Eagles are signing 9 players to reserve/futures deals ahead of NFL free agency and the Scouting Combine
The Chiefs just completed their championship parade, and with that agony now complete for Eagles fans, all attention can turn towards the 2023 NFL offseason.
All eyes will now turn towards the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, before the official start of the new league year, and the free agent bonanza.
