Broncos Add DLs Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo To Practice Squad
The Broncos are adding two familiar faces to their practice squad. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that Denver has signed defensive tackles Sylvester Williams and Darius Kilgo. The two players auditioned for the Broncos earlier this week alongside Timmy Jernigan (who ultimately signed with the team), David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott.
Williams was a first-round pick by the Broncos back in 2013, and while he never really lived up to his potential, he still managed to play a role for those competitive Denver squads. The lineman ultimately spend four seasons with the Broncos, starting a pair of Super Bowls (and winning one).
He signed a three-year deal with the Titans prior to the 2017 campaign, but he lasted less than a year in Tennessee. He’s since had stints with the Lions, Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers, and he had five tackles in five games with Los Angeles in 2019.
A 2015 sixth-round pick by Denver, Kilgo was also a member of that Broncos Super Bowl-winning squad. The 28-year-old hasn’t done a whole lot since getting released by Denver during the 2016 campaign; he compiled five tackles in 11 games for the Titans in 2018, but that’s been it. He’s also had stints with the Patriots (where he earned a second Super Bowl ring), Jaguars, Titans, and Lions.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/20
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Cam Lewis
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: T Jake Rodgers, LB Josh Watson
Detroit Lions
- Activated off reserve/suspended list: S Jayron Kearse
- Waived: RB Ty Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: L’Jarius Sneed
- Promoted: LB Darius Harris
New York Jets
- Activated: WR Jeff Smith
- Promoted: WR Lawrence Cager, CB Javelin Guidry, CB Lamar Jackson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/suspended list (with a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy): TE Chase Harrell
Broncos Work Out Sylvester Williams
Timmy Jernigan wasn’t the only defensive tackle to meet with the Broncos this week. The club also auditioned five other interior linemen, including former first round pick Sylvester Williams, per the league’s official record. Darius Kilgo, David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott also took part in the audition. 
[RELATED: Broncos To Sign Timmy Jernigan]
Williams, 31, has not lived up to his billing as the No. 28 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Still, he’s been mostly employed for the last seven seasons. Williams has played for the Titans, Lions, and Dolphins, and Chargers since leaving the Broncos. The Saints rostered him briefly last summer.
The 330-pound veteran appeared in five games for the Bolts last year, but wasn’t first-string for any of those appearances. The bulk of his 63 career starts came with the Broncos, followed by eleven starts with the Titans in 2017. He might not be a world-beater, but he does come with ample experience, including two Super Bowl starts.
It’s not immediately clear whether the Broncos are still in the market for a defensive tackle or nose tackle after signing Jernigan. But, at minimum, they should have a couple of candidates on their emergency list, which is pretty key given their rash of injuries this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB LeVante Bellamy, LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Taybor Pepper
- Released: LS Kyle Nelson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: S Ryan Neal
Broncos To Sign Timmy Jernigan
The Broncos are set to sign veteran defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The deal marks a quick turnaround for Jernigan, who was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. 
Jernigan made his name as a hard-nosed run-stuffer with the Ravens, before a 2017 trade that sent him to the Ravens. In his first Philly season, Jernigan started 15 games and helped the Eagles on the way to their Super Bowl LII victory. The Birds moved quickly to ink Jernigan to a four-year, $48MM extension, but things didn’t work out as planned.
Back surgery in 2018 limited Jernigan to just three games. After the season, the Eagles 86’d his deal and signed him to a cheaper one-year pact for 2019. He started nine games last season, playing 306 snaps and rating as a middle-of-the-pack interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. After a so-so season, he moved on to the Texans in the spring, only to see them back out in June. That led him to the Jaguars, which ultimately amounted to a cup of coffee.
Now, Jernigan will backstop a Broncos’ defensive line that has been battered by injuries. His first action could come tomorrow night, when the Broncos take on the Jets in a battle of winless teams.
Phillip Lindsay To Play In Week 4?
An interesting name has surfaced as a possible replacement. The Cardinals brought in T.J. Ward for a workout, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Ward interestingly played three seasons with the Broncos, serving as one of the anchors for Denver’s No Fly Zone Super Bowl-winning secondary, but did not make their 53-man roster in Vance Joseph‘s first year as the team’s head coach. The then-Joseph-led Broncos cut the veteran safety in 2017, leading Ward to the Buccaneers. Joseph is now the Cardinals’ DC. Ward, 33, has not played since the 2017 season.
- The Broncos are now down five of their six Pro Bowlers, after Jurrell Casey‘s season-ending biceps tear. But that number of injured standouts could be reduced to four soon. Phillip Lindsay returned to practice last week and may be on track to face the Jets on Thursday, Mike Klis of 9News notes. Lindsay has been battling turf toe since suffering the injury during Denver’s opener.
Broncos To Start Brett Rypien Vs. Jets
In what will seemingly become an increasingly difficult sell as a nationally televised game, Thursday’s Broncos-Jets clash will include another different Denver quarterback. The matchup between the winless teams will feature Brett Rypien calling signals for the Broncos, Vic Fangio confirmed Tuesday.
Rypien, who replaced Jeff Driskel in the Broncos’ Week 3 loss to the Buccaneers, will become Denver’s ninth starting quarterback since Peyton Manning‘s retirement. Fangio said Driskel may see time against the Jets, per Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter), but the Broncos are trying one of their other backups while Drew Lock continues his rehab effort.
Since Manning’s retirement, the Broncos have used Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen, Lock and Driskel as starters — the most in the NFL since 2016. Rypien, a second-year UDFA out of Boise State and nephew of former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, went 8-for-8 in garbage time against the Bucs. He started four seasons for the Mountain West’s Broncos outfit, throwing 90 career TD passes at Boise State.
The injury-plagued Broncos signed Blake Bortles last week but were unlikely to use him for a short-week game. Should Lock need the estimated five- or six-week timetable to recover from his rotator cuff strain, it represents a decent bet Bortles will see time — given his experience edge on Rypien and Driskel. Rypien, at least, will play behind a more experienced right tackle than Driskel did. Longtime Bucs starter Demar Dotson will take over for the injured Elijah Wilkinson, Fangio said.
Broncos Place Elijah Wilkinson On IR
The Broncos will be without their starting right tackle for a while. On Tuesday, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio announced that Elijah Wilkinson will be placed on injured reserve with a leg injury. 
[RELATED: Broncos’ Jurrell Casey Likely Done For Year]
Wilkinson is just the latest Bronco bit by the injury bug, joining linebacker Justin Strnad, cornerback A.J. Bouye, linebacker Mark Barron, and defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones on injured reserve. Wilkinson will play again this year, though edge rusher Von Miller and star wide receiver Courtland Sutton will not return from IR. And, of course, the Broncos are without Drew Lock for at least another couple weeks as he nurses a shoulder injury.
Wilkinson, who previously played on the interior, performed well after he was moved to right tackle last year. Demar Dotson is the most likely fill-in candidate for him, especially given his eleven years of starting experience.
Next up for the badly bruised Broncos — a Thursday night clash with the Jets, who are also 0-3 to start the year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/20
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated off suspension list: DB Jordan Miller
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: CB Tavon Young (story)
- Promoted: CB Terrell Bonds, CB Khalil Dorsey, S Jordan Richards
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: LB Montrel Meander
- Placed on IR: WR JoJo Natson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: OL Keaton Sutherland
- Waived: OL Shaq Calhoun
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: LB Austin Calitro
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S A.J. Moore (story)
- Promoted: RB C.J. Prosise
Broncos’ Jurrell Casey Likely Done For The Year
Bad day for defensive tackles and their biceps. Just moments after it was reported that Washington’s Matt Ioannidis was done for the year, we’ve got word that Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey also has a torn bicep and is likely out for the season as well, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
The hits just keep on coming for Denver, who has been sending players to injured reserve on a seemingly daily basis. Von Miller, Drew Lock, Courtland Sutton, and A.J. Bouye are just a small sampling of the high profile guys to go down with serious injuries. The Broncos acquired Casey in a trade with the Titans back in March, giving up only a seventh-round pick due to the veteran’s healthy salary.
He’s still a very solid player, making the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons, and it’s yet another huge blow to the Broncos’ defense. The USC product has had at least five sacks from the interior in each of the last seven seasons.
Needless to say, the 0-3 Broncos will be quit shorthanded for their trip to take on the Jets on Thursday Night Football this week. With Dre’Mont Jones also on injured reserve, this Denver defensive line is being held together by a thread. Casey is signed through the 2022 season thanks to the four-year, $60.4MM extension he signed in July of 2017.