Broncos Work Out Henry Melton
In need of some reinforcements along their defensive line, the Broncos today worked out free agent tackle Henry Melton, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Melton hasn’t drawn any other known interest since his contract with the Buccaneers expired in March.
[RELATED: Ronnie Hillman on Broncos’ roster bubble]
Denver was already reeling from the offseason loss of Malik Jackson, and the man set to replace him, Vance Walker, suffered a torn ACL last week and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Starting defensive end Derek Wolfe recently rolled his ankle, but apparently not seriously enough to cause any major absence, as he played in last night’s preseason contest against the 49ers. Free agent signee Jared Crick is now set to start opposite Wolfe, but Melton could offer a reserve pass-rushing presence at both end and tackle if signed.
Melton, 29, has settled into more of a rotational role in recent years, and is no longer the dominant interior presence he was during his early career with the Bears. But he still appeared in all 16 games for Tampa Bay last season, playing on roughly half of the Bucs’ defensive snaps. In that time, Melton picked up two sacks, 18 tackles, and recovered two fumbles, but only graded as the league’s No. 101 interior defender among 123 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The former Texas Longhorn earned an honorable mention on PFR’s May list of the best remaining free agent defenders.
While Melton is auditioning for a spot on Denver’s roster, fellow defensive lineman Billy Winn already has one, and he could end up making the team due to the club’s injuries up front, as Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post tweets. Winn was signed last month after the Broncos released Phil Taylor from IR, and he played early in Friday’s preseason contest.
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Broncos Sign TE Manasseh Garner
- The Broncos have placed defensive end Vance Walker on season-ending injured reserve and signed tight end Manasseh Garner to take his roster spot, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Walker was set to play an important role for the Broncos this year, but the torn ACL he suffered Monday put an end to that. The Broncos previously waived Garner with a non-football illness designation last month on the heels of an emergency appendectomy. He went undrafted out of Pitt last year.
Ronnie Hillman Might Not Make Broncos
Running back Ronnie Hillman has been a productive member of the Broncos’ offense during his four-year career – particularly over the previous two seasons – but he’s currently fighting for a roster spot, according to Mike Klis of 9News. With C.J. Anderson entrenched as the Broncos’ go-to rusher, the speedy Hillman is left to vie for playing time with fourth-round rookie Devontae Booker and third-year man Kapri Bibbs. Booker seems like a lock to make the team, which could force one of Hillman or Bibbs out of Denver.
“He’s in a hell of a battle with Kapri and Booker right now,” head coach Gary Kubiak said of Hillman. “There’s no way around that. I’m just being honest with you.”
How Hillman fares on special teams during the preseason, including in their upcoming tilt against the 49ers, could determine whether he sticks in Denver.
“Special teams will be really important,” stated Kubiak. “Ronnie is going to play a lot this week and he’s going to play some special teams, so it’s a very competitive situation.”
That will represent a new challenge for Hillman, who was only on the field for two of the Broncos’ special teams snaps last year and none in 2014. On the other hand, the 2012 third-round pick paced their running backs in offensive snaps (524) during the 2015 regular season (notably, Bibbs finished with zero). He also led the team’s rushers in starts (11), attempts (207), yards (863) and touchdowns (seven). Hillman wasn’t exactly integral during the Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run, though, as he rushed for 54 yards on 32 carries in their three victories. Anderson had as many carries (54) in that stretch as Hillman did yards, and the former racked up between 72 and 90 yards in all three games.
In the offseason, Anderson signed a four-year, $18MM offer sheet with the Dolphins as a restricted free agent, but the Broncos matched it. A month later, they re-upped Hillman on a one-year, $2MM deal with $600K in guarantees. That modest contract won’t be remotely difficult for the Broncos to escape if they want to, and it appears that could happen in the coming weeks.
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Police Still Investigating Aqib Talib Incident
Police are still investigating the June shooting involving Aqib Talib, as Colleen O’Connor of The Denver Post writes. As the Dallas PD looks into the incident, they are also not ruling out the possibility that the cornerback actually shot himself in the leg. 
[RELATED: Broncos’ Vance Walker Done For Season]
The details of the incident could have major legal implications for the 30-year-old. Of course, if Talib fired the gun himself, he could also be facing punishment from a league office that does not look too kindly on firearm mishaps. It’s also not clear if the cornerback is licensed to carry in the state of Texas.
Talib told police he was at a Dallas park about 3:40 a.m. on June 5 when he was shot, but was “too intoxicated” to remember how he was shot. Meanwhile, there is some reason to believe that Talib was not actually shot at the park but was instead shot outside of a nightclub.
Talib has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last three seasons. In 2015, Talib recorded 45 tackles, 13 pass deflections, three interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in 15 regular season games. The veteran’s performance helped propel the Broncos to a Super Bowl win to cap the year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos’ Vance Walker Done For Season
The Broncos announced today that an MRI revealed defensive end Vance Walker has suffered a torn ACL and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2016 season.
[RELATED: Safety Shiloh Keo suspended two games]
Walker’s injury is a serious blow for a Denver defense that has already lost some of its star power through the free agent process. After Malik Jackson landed a massive deal with the Jaguars, Walker was expected to start in Jackson’s place, providing the club’s defense with some level of stability following Jackson’s defection. Instead, former Texan Jared Crick, who signed a two-year deal this offseason, and second-round rookie Adam Gotsis, will form a rotation in an attempt to replace Jackson.
In 15 games last season, the 29-year-old Walker posted two sacks in a limited role, but could have expected to see those numbers grow in 2016. Walker signed a two-year, $5MM deal with Denver prior to last season, and has a $2.25MM cap charge for the upcoming season. That figure will stay on the Broncos’ books despite the fact that Walker won’t be providing any production.
If Denver opts to look to the free agent market in order to add a reinforcement, it could show interest in 3-4 defensive ends such as Chris Canty, Stephen Bowen, and Antonio Smith, the latter of whom played for the Broncos last year.
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Fowler Out Several Weeks With Elbow Fracture
- The Chargers’ latest pitch to voters regarding their downtown stadium measure is that fans of other teams will be paying for the $1.8 billion stadium/convention center project as opposed to Bolts backers. Their latest ad campaign states the stadium will be paid for by “Raiders, Broncos and Patriots fans,” as Brett Schrotenboer of USA Today points out. This is based around the stadium finance plan regarding the use of public money — which will be voted upon Nov. 8 — using a hotel tax hike. Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts voices over the piece, which is aimed at continuing to raise support for a ballot measure that, as of now, needs a two-thirds majority to pass this fall. Most experts deem that unlikely.
- Currently the clubhouse leader to become the Broncos‘ No. 3 wideout, Bennie Fowler is expected to miss at least a few weeks with a fractured elbow, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports. Now vying with Cody Latimer and Jordan Norwood for that position, Fowler — a former UDFA from Michigan State — caught 16 passes for 203 yards as a rookie last season.
Shiloh Keo Gets Two-Game Suspension
The NFL has handed Broncos safety Shiloh Keo a two-game suspension for violating its substance abuse policy, reports Troy Renck of Denver 7. Keo’s punishment is the result of a February arrest for driving under the influence, which came less than a week after the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 victory over Carolina. Keo subsequently pleased guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge, thus paving the way for league discipline.
The 28-year-old Keo joined the Broncos last December after injuries to David Bruton, T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart weakened their safety depth. Keo, an ex-Texan, put himself on the Broncos’ radar by reaching out to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips via Twitter about his interest in joining the club. He ultimately played in seven games last season with Denver, including its three playoff victories, and added a Week 17 interception against San Diego.
Months after both the end of their season and his arrest, the Broncos re-signed Keo to a one-year, $760K deal in April. He’s now trying to stay ahead of rookies Justin Simmons (third round) and Will Parks (sixth round) on the depth chart in order to earn a roster spot, as Renck notes. Keo can remain with the Broncos until they set their 53-man roster, according to Renck. He’ll then be barred from the team’s facilities until after its second game.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Expected To Start Sanchez Week 1
- Trevor Siemian has looked the best this offseason for the Broncos, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). But sources within the organization informed him the team will likely start Mark Sanchez in Week 1 due to his experience. However, the Broncos won’t be afraid to make a switch to Siemian if he continues to show them more than seventh-round picks typically do. Siemian is slated to play the second quarter of the Broncos’ preseason opener on Thursday.
- Projected to be the Broncos’ right guard starter after moving from right to left tackle last year, Ty Sambrailo is now expected to miss the preseason due to an elbow injury he sustained in late July, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. The Broncos are thin behind Sambrailo after losing starters Evan Mathis (in free agency) and Louis Vasquez (cut) from their Super Bowl championship lineup, placing Sambrailo and Max Garcia in at guard. But the team is now using Darrion Weems, a fifth-year player but one who hasn’t suited up for a game since doing so with the 2013 Cowboys, in relief. Swing tackle Michael Schofield is also working sporadically at right guard in Sambrailo’s stead.
Broncos Remove Phil Taylor From IR
- The Broncos terminated former Browns first-rounder Phil Taylor from their IR, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Taylor signed with the defending champions before the start of free agency.
Elway, Osweiler Exchange Words
In a recent interview, Broncos GM John Elway indicated that Brock Osweiler was none too pleased when he got the hook in favor of Peyton Manning last season.
Given Elway’s view of Osweiler, one has to wonder exactly how much he wanted to re-sign him. This offseason, Osweiler signed a four-year, $72MM deal with the Texans with $37MM in guarantees. The Broncos, meanwhile, only offered Osweiler ~$64MM with $30MM in guarantees.
- Osweiler responded to Elway on Monday (link via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop). “The only thing I would say is what kind of competitor wouldn’t want to play in that situation?” the former Broncos QB said. “Outside of that, I think I’ve answered all of those questions, we’re now in August, we just had a great training camp practice, and I’m excited to play the 49ers coming up.”