Broncos Release WR John Brown
With the Broncos on track to have Jerry Jeudy back in Week 8, they are sending John Brown back to free agency. The Broncos released Brown from their practice squad Tuesday.
Denver added Brown earlier this month. The team had lost both Jeudy and K.J. Hamler in September and has played without both over the past four games. While Hamler is done for the year, Jeudy is on track to return from his high ankle sprain Sunday against Washington.
Days after signing the accomplished wideout, the Broncos bumped Brown up from their practice squad to their active roster. Brown, 31, reverted to the Broncos’ taxi squad after each of their past two games. The two-time 1,000-yard receiver did not make a catch as a Bronco. His one target resulted in a Teddy Bridgewater underthrown pass and an interception during Thursday’s loss in Cleveland.
After playing with the Cardinals, Ravens and Bills from 2014-20, Brown caught on with the Raiders this offseason. However, that stay ended after Brown requested his release late this summer. After spending several weeks in free agency, Brown landed an opportunity in Denver. The former third-round pick has 4,748 career receiving yards and 31 touchdown grabs.
The Broncos also designated tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to return from IR. The second-year pro serves as Denver’s No. 2 tight end and an auxiliary pass catcher. He caught nine passes for 57 yards in the Broncos’ first four games this season but missed time with a hamstring injury. The Mizzou product is eligible to come off IR ahead of Week 8. He and Jeudy would give Denver some much-needed receiving help in a key game for the team’s fading playoff hopes.
Rams Trade Kenny Young To Broncos
The Rams have traded Kenny Young to the Broncos, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Rams will also send a 2024 7th-round pick to Denver to net a 2024 sixth-round pick in exchange.
Young, 27 in November, has started in all seven of the Rams’ games this year for 46 tackles, two sacks, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble. Now he’ll join the Broncos, who were in serious need of linebacker help. They’ve got eight LBs on the injured list, including six on IR. This marks the second time that Young has been traded. Last time around, in 2019, the Ravens shipped him to the Rams in a similar deal.
The Rams seem to be clearing the way for Ernest Jones, a third-round rookie who has hardly played on defense. Meanwhile, the Broncos are happy to add Young’s experience, which includes 53 career games.
The Broncos might not be done trading and they still have until November 2 to make upgrades. At the moment, however, they might not be the most likely landing spot for Deshaun Watson. The Dolphins and Panthers are said to be the favorites to trade for the Texans’ embattled quarterback.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Zach Allen, LB Chandler Jones (story)
Denver Broncos
- Waived: LB Barrington Wade
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: OL Logan Stenberg
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: TE Daniel Helm
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: DE Justin Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Sheldrick Redwine (from Panthers’ practice squad)
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: DT Josiah Bronson
New York Jets
- Released from IR: OT Teton Saltes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers: QB Reid Sinnett (from Dolphins)
- Waived: LS Rick Lovato
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/suspended list: DL Jordan Willis
Deshaun Watson Would Not Be Placed On Exempt List If Traded
Multiple teams are still interested in trading for Texans QB Deshaun Watson, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports (video link). Critically, Rapoport says Watson would not be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list if he were to be dealt.
Of course, Watson has no interest in playing for the Texans, and the Texans have no interest in trying to force their best trade asset to suit up. So he has effectively been on paid leave all season, but we have heard all along that if another club were to trade for the three-time Pro Bowler, the league could step in and park him on the exempt list until his legal situation is resolved, thereby making a trade difficult to consummate.
Rapoport, citing the provision of the NFL’s personal conduct policy that states that a player can be placed on the exempt list if he has been charged with a felony or violent crime, says Watson — who has not been criminally charged at this point — should be eligible to play for any team that acquires him. And, RapSheet hears that a deal is expected to be completed prior to the November 2 deadline.
A recent report indicated that the Panthers and Eagles were no longer involved in the Watson sweepstakes and that the Dolphins were the only team left standing. However, Rapoport says the Dolphins are not alone in their pursuit, and that in addition to Carolina, Philadelphia, and the Broncos, there are other clubs sniffing around.
That report could have been leaked by the Texans in an effort to get Miami to increase its offer. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that no team has been as motivated as the Dolphins to get a deal done, and Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that the Texans have told another club that they have to beat Miami’s offer (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald on Twitter). Plus, it’s unclear if Watson will waive his no-trade clause for any team other than the Dolphins.
In addition to Watson, there are other Texans players that could be on the move in the next week or so. La Canfora hears that LT Laremy Tunsil could have been a trade candidate if he had not suffered a serious thumb injury earlier this month, and other players that GM Nick Caserio might seek to trade include QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Phillip Lindsay, LB Christian Kirksey, and CB Desmond King.
Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy To Return In Week 8
A reeling Broncos team will have some much-needed receiver help in Week 8. Vic Fangio said Jerry Jeudy will be activated ahead of Denver’s game against Washington.
The Broncos medically cleared Jeudy ahead of their Thursday road trip trip but held him out of their 17-14 loss against the Browns, giving the second-year wide receiver another 10 days to finalize his recovery from a high ankle sprain. Jeudy went down in Week 1 but was on his way to a 100-yard day in the Broncos’ win over the Giants. The Broncos designated the Alabama product to return from IR last weekend.
Losers of four straight, the Broncos have been without Jeudy and fellow slot weapon K.J. Hamler since Week 3. The team has struggled offensively without its young receivers, averaging just 16 points per game during its four-game losing streak. Hamler is out for the season after tearing an ACL.
Denver chose Jeudy 15th overall last year but has yet to see he and Courtland Sutton complete a game together. Sutton did not play in Week 1 of last season and went down for the year in Week 2. The fourth-year boundary weapon returned to start this season, but the Broncos lost Jeudy during that game. Jeudy led the Broncos in receiving last season, totaling 856 yards as a rookie.
Broncos To Acquire Stephen Weatherly From Vikings
The Broncos and Vikings agreed on a trade Saturday, one that will send Stephen Weatherly to Denver. The Vikings are trading the veteran edge defender to the Broncos in a deal that will see the teams swap seventh-round picks, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Weatherly and a 2023 seventh-rounder will go to Denver, which is sending a 2022 seventh to Minnesota. This will reunite Weatherly with new Broncos GM George Paton, who was with the Vikings when they drafted the sixth-year vet back in 2016. Weatherly sought a trade, according to Pelissero (on Twitter), and the Vikings obliged for low-level compensation.
This move will give the Broncos some much-needed depth. Denver finished its Thursday game without all four of its starting linebackers. Von Miller avoided serious injury, but the team is still without Bradley Chubb for an extended stretch. Malik Reed and seventh-round rookie Jonathon Cooper served as the Broncos’ primary edge rushers in Thursday’s 17-14 loss to the Browns.
Weatherly, 27, has played less than 20% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps in each of their past four games. He has served as a key special-teamer for the Vikings and started nine games for the Panthers in 2020. The Broncos are decimated at linebacker, having lost both starters and special-teamers, so Weatherly will likely be plugged in on special teams soon with his new squad.
The Panthers signed Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5MM deal in March 2020 but cut bait after one season. The Vikings brought him back this year. Less than $1MM remains on Weatherly’s contract, which runs through season’s end. The Broncos are not exactly up against the cap, however, holding more than $15MM in space.
To clear a roster spot, the Broncos moved linebacker Micah Kiser to IR. The former Rams ILB starter suffered a groin injury during the Broncos’ Thursday tilt. Vic Fangio said the Broncos are looking for help at this position as well.
Latest On Broncos HC Vic Fangio
Vic Fangio has been on the hot seat since the offseason, and his seat has gotten a bit warmer during an active four-game losing streak. While the Broncos head coach has certainly lost the trust of the fans, it sounds like he’s also losing his locker room. According to Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com, “Fangio’s message is growing stale” and the HC is quickly losing a “segment” of his squad.
The latest hit was when the Broncos let the Browns’ backups beat them on Thursday Night Football. As Beasley writes, Fangio’s refusal to pull play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is one topic of contention. Denver has only scored 64 points over the past four games.
“We have to rally,” Fangio said (via Beasley). “We have to overcome our injuries. They can’t use them as excuses. We have to get back to playing better football as a team. Make more first downs, which will lead to touchdowns on offense. Play the run better on defense so that you do not get so many third-and-ones and third-and-twos.
“We just have to play better, and we have to coach better. I do not want to be remiss in saying that. We have to coach better, and we have got to adjust to what we have right now.”
Fangio went 12-20 through his first two seasons as head coach, including a disappointing 5-11 record in 2020. While the coach seemed to acknowledge that he’d on the hot seat, he also said his only focus is ending Denver’s losing streak.
“I’m not worried about my coaching status,” Fangio said (via Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press). “What I’m worried about is this team and doing anything and everything we can to get our guys coached up to play better. And that’s my only focus.”
Broncos NT Mike Purcell To Miss Time?
The Broncos appear to have dodged a rare injury bullet, with Von Miller suffering a sprained ankle that may not force him to miss any additional time. But their defense did take another hit Thursday night.
Mike Purcell suffered a “significant” finger injury, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The third-year Denver nose tackle is going through an MRI that will determine whether surgery will be necessary, but it sounds like the interior defensive lineman is set to miss some time. Purcell will join a host of Broncos defenders in doing so.
Injuries have gutted the Broncos’ front seven, which was without linebackers Bradley Chubb, Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell against the Browns. Miller did not play in the second half. Cleveland’s third-string running back, Alliance of American Football alum D’Ernest Johnson, gashed Denver’s depleted unit for 146 rushing yards.
A fellow AAF contributor, Purcell caught on with the Broncos in 2019. He moved into the team’s starting lineup midway through that season and provided a boost against the run. The Broncos rewarded Purcell with a three-year, $11.5MM deal early in the 2020 campaign. Purcell and D-lineman Shelby Harris are signed long-term. Purcell’s extension runs through the 2023 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/21
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: P Ryan Winslow
- Placed on IR: WR Brandon Zylstra
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: S Deon Bush
- Promoted: S Teez Tabor
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: FB Nick Ralston
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Curtis Robinson, LB Barrington Wade
- Placed on IR: LB Andre Mintze
- Waived: WR David Moore
Houston Texans
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: OL Jimmy Morrissey
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: K Michael Badgley, NT Antwaun Woods
- Waived: QB Jacob Eason, DT Chris Williams
- Activated from IR: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Placed on IR: WR Parris Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: OL Rashaad Coward
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Desmond Trufant
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Donte Deayon, RB Buddy Howell
- Placed on IR: RB Jake Funk, TE Johnny Mundt
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/injured: RB Kene Nwangwu
- Released: RB Ameer Abdullah
New York Giants
- Promoted: OT Korey Cunningham, WR Dante Pettis
- Placed on IR: WR C.J. Board
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Rashard Robinson
- Waived: G John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Activated: S Brady Breeze
- Placed on IR: WR Cam Batson, CB Caleb Farley (story)
- Waived: P Johnny Townsend
Broncos LB Alexander Johnson Done For Year
Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson will miss the rest of the year with a torn pectoral muscle, per a club announcement. He’ll be placed on injured reserve today, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. 
The Broncos are already without fellow starting ‘backer Josey Jewell, who also suffered a torn pec. It’s a bad blow to Vic Fangio‘s front seven and especially poor timing for Johnson. The middle linebacker is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the spring, after he wraps his one-year, $3.384MM tender.
Johnson, 30 in December, joined the Broncos in 2018 and found his way to the starting lineup in October of 2019. He immediately improved the team’s run defense and kept his first-string gig throughout 2020. Johnson made 124 tackles and forced two fumbles last season while Pro Football Focus rated the 255-pound defender as a top-25 off-ball linebacker. In his six games this year, Johnson recorded 32 stops, two sacks, and three passes defensed.
Meanwhile, the Broncos also say that wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is unlikely to play on Thursday night when they face the Browns.