Broncos' McDonald Has Shoulder Issue
- Broncos defensive tackle Clinton McDonald is dealing with a shoulder issue that may be related to his previous shoulder woes, Mike Klis of 9News hears. It’s a source of concern for the Broncos, though the team is awaiting further tests to get a complete understanding of the situation. McDonald, who signed a two-year deal with Denver earlier this year, missed the club’s entire offseason program while recovering from an infection. He was also forced to accept a pay cut as a result of the issue, although he can earn the $3MM he gave up by appearing in all 16 games for the Broncos this year.
Broncos Notes: Heckert, Kelly, Leary
On Monday, the Broncos announced that former personnel executive Tom Heckert has died. Heckert, who also served as the GM of the Eagles and Browns, was widely beloved in the football world. After battling amyloidosis for a lengthy period, Heckert passed away peacefully on Sunday night in the company of his family.
“Tom was an integral part of our organization and we’re all incredibly saddened today,” GM John Elway said in a statement. “With his many years of experience and time as a GM, Tom was a tremendous resource and a key member of our team. He was a very good evaluator—He had an eye for talent, and we always trusted his voice. It’s easy to see why Tom was widely respected and had so many great relationships across the league. I’ll always be grateful for how he helped me transition into this position. My prayers go out to Tom’s family, friends and everyone he worked with during his career.”
With Heckert’s memory in mind, here’s more from Denver:
- Former Mr. Irrelevant Chad Kelly could wind up as the team’s backup quarterback behind Case Keenum, coach Vance Joseph told reporters on Sunday. For now, former first-round pick Paxton Lynch is taking practice reps with the second-team offense, but it’s a situation to keep an eye on. In theory, if the Broncos feel confident in Kelly’s ability, they could shop Lynch to other teams. Although Lynch hasn’t done a whole lot in his NFL career, he was on the radar of several teams before the Broncos selected him No. 26 overall in 2016, so the Broncos might be able to get something in return for him.
- This week, Joseph told reporters that Broncos left guard Ronald Leary underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late May (via Mike Klis of 9News). It appears that Leary is still dealing with some effects of the procedure, and he was held out of Sunday’s scrimmage as a precaution.
- The Broncos and center Matt Paradis are discussing a new deal.
Broncos, Matt Paradis Discussing Deal
Entering a season with an interesting collection of contract-year players, the Broncos have begun discussing a long-term future with one of them.
The Broncos have opened extension talks with Matt Paradis, Mike Klis of 9News reports. Paradis will begin his fourth season as Denver’s starting center next month. These talks will likely intensify toward the end of camp, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets.
Paradis, Bradley Roby, Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray comprise the notable sect of walk-year Broncos, and the team extended second-round RFA tenders to Paradis and Barrett. Both are attached to that $2.9MM amount this season. Paradis, though, has been the Bronco who’s seen the most snaps over the past three seasons. He’s started all 48 games since debuting as Denver’s top snapper in 2015, the former sixth-round pick doing so in 2016 despite pain in both hips — requiring two surgeries last year.
Now able to train regularly this offseason, Paradis could set himself up to be a prime free agent on the 2019 market. Though, the Broncos will surely not want to let their offensive line’s centerpiece walk. Considering the Bradley Chubb selection could cloud the futures of Barrett and Ray in Denver, and no known Roby re-up talks having taken place yet, Paradis may be the team’s top extension priority this year.
The Broncos negotiated extensions for RFAs given second-round tenders in the recent past, signing Brandon Marshall long-term in 2016 and Brandon McManus last year. Six centers earn at least $9MM per year, and Paradis being convinced to bypass free agency will likely mean his team making him the seventh such snapper. Two centers — Ryan Jensen and Brandon Linder — are $10MM-AAV players.
Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 center in 2017, Paradis is a bit older than others from his 2014 draft class. He’s set to turn 29 this season. So, the Broncos will be signing up for his early-30s campaigns if they agree to extend him.
Jamal Carter Excelling In Camp, Could Play A Larger Role In 2018
- Broncos safety Jamal Carter, a 2017 UDFA, has been very impressive in this year’s training camp, as Mike Klis of 9News.com writes. Carter appeared in all 16 of the team’s games last season, primarily as a special teams contributor, but he could get more defensive snaps in 2018, especially in sub-packages.
Courtland Sutton Locking Down WR3 Job
- Eric Decker‘s one-year Patriots agreement comes in at just shy of $2MM. The former Broncos, Jets and Titans wideout signed for $1.9MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). He has a chance to earn up to $2.5MM, per Rapoport, via incentives tied to his reception count. Decker suited up in Patriots gear for the first time Saturday. Now 31, Decker is entering his ninth season.
- While Emmanuel Sanders has yet to relinquish his status as the Broncos’ No. 2 wide receiver — a role he inherited from Decker in 2014 — the team looks to have found a No. 3 target at long last. Having failed to find a capable cog for that job since Wes Welker‘s exit, the Broncos appear to be zeroing in on Courtland Sutton as their No. 3 receiver, Lindsay Jones of USA Today writes. The SMU product’s drawn rave reviews throughout Broncos camp, and Jones notes the second-rounder’s all but locked up the WR3 job going into preseason play. Fourth-round pick DaeSean Hamilton, viewed as a superior route-runner than the 6-foot-3 Sutton, is expected to play a role as well. But Sutton will likely start out as Denver’s third option. The rookies’ work will be interesting, given the non-guaranteed contract-year salaries for the Broncos’ longtime starting wideouts in 2019.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/18
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Bryce Bobo
- Waived: WR Kenny Bell
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Dom Williams
- Waived/Injured: WR Deontez Alexander
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Kenneth Durden
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Lord Hyeamang
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T Laurence Gibson
- Placed on IR: S Johnathan Cyprien
- Waived/injured: DL Connor Flagel
Bronco Defenders Expect UDFA RB To Play Key Role
- The Broncos drafted two running backs and have two young holdovers in Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson, but rookie UDFA Phillip Lindsay is turning heads early in camp. The 5-foot-7 speedster out of Colorado has Von Miller and Brandon Marshall expecting him to play a key role this season. “We’re definitely going to have some things planned for Phillip,” Miller said, via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. “Guys like that in the league, you just can’t cover them. They’re just assets to the offense. You have to have a back like that and we definitely have one.” Marshall expects Lindsay, whom Mike Klis of 9News observes battling Henderson and seventh-round pick David Williams for a role behind Booker and Royce Freeman, to be Denver’s third-down back. Lindsay posted 1,700-plus yards from scrimmage in his final two college seasons. UDFAs like Chris Harris, C.J. Anderson and Shaquil Barrett have made impacts in Denver, but the franchise hasn’t deployed much of an outlet threat since Knowshon Moreno.
Broncos Notes: Henderson, Brown, Ray, Lynch
The Broncos’ receiving room looks a lot different than it did last year. While Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas will return from last year’s group, there’s several new faces. The team drafted Courtland Sutton in the third round and Daesean Hamilton in the fourth and both have reportedly shown well in practices and are being groomed to take over for Sanders and Thomas in the future.
Lost amid all the excitement surrounding Sutton and Hamilton has been last year’s third round pick Carlos Henderson. Henderson started training camp on the reserve/did not report list, as he is reportedly dealing with a personal issue. Troy Renck of Denver 7 took a stab at predicting the Broncos’ 53-man roster, and left Henderson off it. Renck thinks the Broncos will ultimately be forced to cut Henderson due to the depth at the position.
Henderson missed all of last season with a thumb injury. If Renck is right, the 82nd overall pick of the 2017 draft could end up never playing a single snap for the Broncos.
Here’s more from Denver:
- Speaking of Henderson, Mike Klis of 9 News thinks the recently signed Corey “Philly” Brown could slide in and replace Henderson on the roster. Brown spent all of 2017 out of the league, but was a productive player before that, notably hauling in a team high 80-yards in Super Bowl 50.
- Linebacker Shane Ray was reportedly “pretty shocked” when he was told by a doctor that he wouldn’t require surgery after all (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post). Initially thought to be out for the beginning of the regular season, Ray is now practicing with “no restrictions on his participation” according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.
- Renck thinks the Broncos could look to add a veteran backup quarterback if Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly “don’t impress in the first few [preseason] games.” If Lynch can’t separate himself and win the backup job this summer, it could be the end of the road for the 2016 first round pick in Denver.
WR Philly Brown Expected To Sign With Broncos
It sounds like Corey “Philly” Brown is headed to Denver. The wide receiver is set for a physical examination with the Broncos tomorrow, reports Mike Klis of 9News.com. Assuming everything goes well, it’s expected that the wideout will be on the squad when the team hits the field for its first training camp practice this weekend.
The former Ohio State star had three solid seasons with the Panthers despite going undrafted in the 2014 draft. He had his best season in 2015, hauling in 31 receptions for 447 yards and four scores. After appearing in a career-high 16 games during the 2016 campaign, he signed a one-year deal with the Bills last offseason. However, he didn’t end up seeing the field for Buffalo before being released in October. While he had workouts with several teams, he ended up sitting out the entire 2017 season.
Now, he’ll be looking to rebound with the a Broncos squad that’s looking for some depth behind Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and second-rounder Courtland Sutton. The team placed a pair of receivers, Carlos Henderson and Jimmy Williams, on the reserve/did not report list yesterday. While Henderson is expected to eventually report to camp, Williams is considering retirement. The team already added Mark Chapman, and they’re also rostering DaeSean Hamilton, Jordan Taylor, Isaiah McKenzie, River Cracraft, Jordan Leslie, and Kenny Bell.
Broncos Place Two On DNR List
- The Broncos have placed receivers Carlos Henderson and Jimmy Williams on the reserve/did not report list, per Mike Klis of 9News and Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post (Twitter links). While Henderson is dealing with a personal situation and figures to report eventually, Williams is considering retirement. Denver has already signed Mark Chapman to fill one receiving void, and the club will ink another pass-catcher soon, tweets Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.