NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Ronald Zamort
Cleveland Browns
- Signed LB James Burgess, TE J.P. Holtz
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cory Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: C Kyle Friend, TE Jason Vander Laan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Duke Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Robert Myers
Broncos Work Out A.J. Hughes
- The Broncos worked out punter A.J. Hughes on Thursday, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. Notably, the team already has a capable option in Riley Dixon, who ranks seventh in the league in net yards per punt (41.2) and 11th in punts inside the 20 (twenty-two). As of earlier this month, his net average was the highest ever for a rookie, per Broncos vice president of public relations Patrick Smyth (Twitter link).
Broncos Make Two Roster Moves
- The Broncos signed outside linebacker Vontarrius Dora to their active roster and placed long snapper Casey Kreiter on injured reserve Friday. Dora, an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech, is now in position to make his professional debut after tallying 23.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks during his 31-game college career.
Broncos Audition Toby Gerhart
Remember Toby Gerhart? He hasn’t played in an NFL game since November of 2015, but he re-emerged today when he worked out for the Broncos (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). 
Gerhart battled injuries in his two years with the Jaguars and never lived up to his sizable free agent contract. In March, Jacksonville dropped Gerhart, prematurely terminating his three-year deal, $10.5MM pact. We haven’t heard his name much in the last nine months and this is the first reported NFL tryout for him all year.
In 21 total games with Jacksonville, Gerhart ran for 370 yards and two scores. In 2015, he carried the ball 20 times for 44 yards. Gerhart has dealt with an injured foot, bruised ribs, and a tender core in recent seasons and his audition today could be a sign that he is finally healthy.
The Broncos currently have three running backs on the roster: Devontae Booker, Justin Forsett, and Juwan Thompson. Booker, the starter at RB, has been struggling as of late.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/14/16
The latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: Marvin Hall Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Ryan White
- Cut: OL Kevin Graf
Buffalo Bills
- Signed OLB Greg Townsend Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Josh Shirley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks
- Cut: RB Terrell Watson
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Laurence Gibson, WR Tevin Jones
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: FB Austin Johnson
49ers’ Trent Baalke Could Land With Broncos
According to several reports out of San Francisco, 49ers GM Trent Baalke will likely be pushed out this offseason. If that’s the case, then he may not be out of work for long. Baalke, who has a good relationship with John Elway, could wind up with the Broncos, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. 
[RELATED: 49ers Place Center Daniel Kilgore On IR]
Baalke and Elway have spent time considerable together while the two teams held joint practices each of the past two summers. Elway figures to continue as the Broncos’ lead decision-maker, but Baalke could be brought in with some type of consultant title.
Although the 49ers are struggling with just one win so far this year, the team isn’t too far removed from success. In Baalke’s first three seasons at the helm, the 49ers made deep playoff runs. The Niners made it to the conference championship round in the 2011 and 2013 seasons and reached the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.
Baalke may not get to run another team right away, but he is highly respected as a college talent evaluator and could bring that expertise to Denver next year.
Broncos Audition 10
- The Broncos auditioned the following 10 players, according to Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (Twitter links): linebackers Khairi Fortt, Deon Lacey, and John Lotulelei; safeties Kevin Peterson, Josh Evans, Dezmen Southward; and cornerbacks Keith Baxter, Mike Hilton, Demetrius McCray, and Corey Tindal.
Broncos Place Marlon Brown On IR
- Brandon Marshall‘s hamstring injury and impending Week 14 absence induced the Broncos to make depth arrangements at linebacker, and the defending Super Bowl champions did so by adding Quentin Gause off the practice squad, Mike Klis of 9News reports. To make room, the Broncos placed recently re-signed wide receiver Marlon Brown on IR. An undrafted rookie who spent time with the Eagles and Patriots, Gause landed on Denver’s practice squad in mid-October. A back injury caused the Broncos to cut Brown in August, and since re-signing the former Ravens target in November, the team did not deploy Brown in a game.
Broncos Likely To Start Trevor Siemian Sunday
After his second missed start this season, Trevor Siemian is expected to return on Sunday for the Broncos-Titans game, a player source informs Mike Klis of 9News. The first-year starter has missed 2 1/2 games now, with the two Paxton Lynch starts showing perhaps the rookie is not ready for regular duty.
Siemian is coming off his best game as a pro — a 368-yard, three-touchdown effort in an overtime loss to the Chiefs — but now needs to distance himself from another setback to avoid an injury-prone label after already missing time with a shoulder malady. For the Broncos, they likely need the second-year success story to return to make a last-ditch run at the AFC West title or possibly just to make the playoffs. Siemian (15 touchdown passes, seven INTs, 2,396 air yards) continuing to play reasonably well would continue to muddy the waters for the franchise in the future, though, with the first-round investment in Lynch still putting him in line as the quarterback of the future.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves.
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DT Travis Raciti
New York Jets
- Signed: FB Chris Swain
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB George Farmer
- Cut: RB Kelvin Taylor