Today’s minor moves around the league:
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
AUGUST 25: In a surprising yet encouraging update, head coach Nathaniel Hackett stated (via the team’s website) that the injury is not nearly as significant as originally thought. “Yeah, we’re definitely hoping for Jonas to be [ready for] Week 1, that’s kind of our aiming point ,” Hackett said. “We very much dodged a bullet on that one.” Griffith being ready in time to start the regular season (or at least miss less time than initially feared) would be a significant boost to the Broncos’ defense.
AUGUST 14: Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith sustained a dislocated elbow during the team’s preseason victory over the Cowboys on Saturday, as Mike Klis of 9News.com tweets. Griffith is expected to miss the next four to six weeks, so his availability for the first several games of the regular season is in doubt.
The 25-year-old ‘backer entered the league as a UDFA with the 49ers and joined the Broncos via minor trade last August. He saw his first professional defensive snap in Week 14 of the 2021 season and performed quite well down the stretch, compiling 45 tackles — including four for loss and 5.5 run “stuffs” — in the final five games of the year.
He carried that momentum into spring work in 2022, taking first-team reps during OTAs and training camp. He and Josey Jewell have been viewed as the starting ILB tandem for months.
GM George Paton did not do much to address his team’s inside linebacker position this offseason, aside from re-signing Jewell and signing former Eagles LB Alex Singleton to a modest contract. He did not draft an ILB, and he did not retain players like Alexander Johnson, Kenny Young, and Micah Kiser (perhaps due to his confidence in Griffith).
Singleton, however, was Philadelphia’s leading tackler over the past two seasons, and he is the most likely Griffith replacement. While Singleton’s work in coverage is generally poor, he should be effective in Denver’s base packages, which is where Griffith is expected to see most of his action anyway.
Klis also names 2020 fifth-rounder Justin Strnad, who started fives games last year, as a candidate to see more snaps in Griffith’s absence, and he suggests that the Broncos could explore a reunion with Johnson (Twitter link). Singleton, whose contract includes a playtime incentive, may now have a better chance to cash in on that incentive.
Today’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Commanders
The biggest storyline of the day for the Giants was the injury to Johnson, but they have been busy at other positions as well. Hand was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2020, making 23 appearances during his time there. He primarily played on special teams, but registered an interception and three pass breakups as a rookie. Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets that Minnesota was interested in re-signing him had he cleared waivers.
The release of Akins is somewhat surprising, given the Giants’ question marks at the tight end position. The former Texans third-rounder signed just before the draft, where New York added Daniel Bellinger in the fourth round. The latter had a brief stint on the PUP list at the start of training camp, but, if healthy, could be the favorite to take on Evan Engram‘s vacated starting spot.
Joe Schobert did not last long as a Bronco. The veteran linebacker was part of Denver’s second wave of cuts, as the team made the necessary moves to reach Tuesday’s 80-man roster max.
The Broncos signed the former Browns, Jaguars and Steelers starter last week, after having brought him in for a visit earlier during training camp. After playing Schobert in their second preseason game, the Broncos moved on.
Denver did not devote many resources to its inside linebacker position this offseason, adding nontendered Philadelphia cog Alex Singleton. The team was preparing to use 2021 trade acquisition Jonas Griffith alongside Josey Jewell at linebacker, but Griffith’s dislocated elbow changed those plans. Griffith is expected to miss time to start the regular season, which led to the Schobert signing.
Schobert, 28, made the Pro Bowl in 2017 and landed a big-ticket Jaguars contract in 2020. The Jags moved on from the high-volume tackler last year, trading him to the Steelers. While Schobert became a Devin Bush replacement, starting 15 games after the early-season trade, little interest came his way this offseason. The Broncos, who also moved 2021 inside linebacker starter Baron Browning to the edge, should be expected to pursue other outside options at the position.
One of the Broncos’ options at right tackle, Tom Compton, will also not be on the team’s 53-man roster when the season starts. The team placed the veteran offensive lineman on its reserve/PUP list Tuesday, shelving him for at least four games. The Broncos also waived running back Stevie Scott and wide receiver Trey Quinn. Tackle Casey Tucker received a waived/injured designation.
Prior to Nathaniel Hackett reuniting with Billy Turner, the Broncos signed Compton to a one-year, $2.25MM deal. Both Turner and Compton began camp on the active/PUP list, but Turner began practicing last week. Compton, 33, underwent a summer back procedure, blunting his momentum after being a quality fill-in for 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey down the stretch last season. Turner, Calvin Anderson and Cameron Fleming are vying to be the Broncos’ latest right tackle starter. Whoever wins that competition will be Denver’s 10th Week 1 right tackle in 10 years.
Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to cut their rosters from 85 to 80 players. Many franchises have started doing that early. Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Another week, another dislocated elbow for a Broncos defender. Per Mike Klis of 9News.com, Denver cornerback Michael Ojemudia dislocated his elbow during the team’s preseason loss to the Bills on Saturday (Twitter link).
The Broncos lost linebacker Jonas Griffith to the same injury last week. While Kilis did not provide a recovery timeline for Ojemudia, it seems safe to assume that Griffith’s expected absence of four to six weeks would apply to Ojemudia as well.
It may also be fair to expect a corresponding roster move. Denver’s CB starters appear to be set, with Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby penciled in as the primary boundary corners and K’Waun Williams in the slot, but the depth behind that trio was questionable even before Ojemudia’s injury. Ojemudia and fourth-round rookie Damarri Mathis had been battling for the CB4 role, and while earlier reports suggested that Ojemudia was faring well in that competition, the 2020 third-rounder played poorly during his time in the Buffalo game.
Mathis and players like Bless Austin and Essang Bassey could see an uptick in playing time, though GM George Paton could also look for reinforcements on the open market, just as he did when signing Joe Schobert in the wake of Griffith’s injury. There are a few notable corners still available, including Chris Harris, Joe Haden, and Jimmy Smith.
Ojemudia appeared in all 16 games (11 starts) in his rookie campaign in 2020, and he tallied six passes defensed and four forced fumbles while surrendering a 103.2 QB rating. He finished with a poor 48.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, and he slipped down the depth chart last summer. He was placed on IR at the start of the 2021 season and was not activated until December 11. He ultimately appeared in just two contests, though he did earn a start in the final game of the season, recording 11 tackles and two passes defensed.
With the NFL dropping the roster limit to 85 players today, we’ve got a long list of minor moves to pass along:
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
The Broncos were able to take a significant step on the injury front yesterday, as they activated edge rusher Randy Gregory from the active/PUP list. When speaking about his surgery and the recovery timetable resulting from it, Denver’s free agent acquisition expressed optimism that he will be available to start the season. 
“That’s the plan,” Gregory said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, when asked if he would be ready to start the campaign on time. “At the end of the day, the plan is to be ready for Week 1.”
The 29-year-old notably backed out of an extension with the Cowboys – with whom he had previously spent his entire career – and then signed with the Broncos on a pact with the same terms (five years, $70MM). He will look to pair with Bradley Chubb (who has dealt with injuries at multiple times in his career as well) in what could be a highly effective pass-rushing duo.
Speaking about the need for the shoulder surgery he had done this offseason, Gregory added, “it got to the point where it was hindering my play, so it was definitely something important to do long-term for the team… I’m still working through some kinks, but I should be ready to go.”
The former second-rounder also said that the injury he was dealing with had lingered for three years, a stretch which included his final two seasons of game action with the Cowboys. Over that span, he totaled 9.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, figures which he should be able to improve upon in Denver. “Pre-surgery, there were a lot of things that I couldn’t do that normally,” he said, adding that “the mobility aspect of it and the range of motion has probably been the biggest thing.”
Gregory was expected to be ready in time for the start of the regular season at the time of his surgery, so things continue to be on the right track regarding his recovery. Assuming he is healthy this year, he will have a crucial role on the Broncos’ highly-talented defense.