Graham Glasgow Tests Positive For COVID-19; Broncos Cancel Practice
Both the Broncos and Chargers will enter the weekend with a starting offensive lineman on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Graham Glasgow tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss Sunday’s game against the Bolts, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Vic Fangio canceled the team’s Friday practice. The NFL did not mandate this move. This comes a day after Anthony Lynn nixed the Chargers’ in-person workout. Los Angeles will be without center Ryan Groy on Sunday after his positive COVID-19 test. As of Friday afternoon, the AFC West matchup remains scheduled for Sunday.
The Broncos identified starting right tackle Demar Dotson and reserve center Austin Schlottmann as close Glasgow contacts. Both would be able to suit up Sunday were they to submit negative tests Saturday. Each O-lineman tested negative Friday, per Klis.
Denver offensive line coach Mike Munchak has been away from the team this week due to COVID-19 protocols, per Klis, though the team did not announce if its second-year assistant tested positive. Running backs coach Curtis Modkins tested positive earlier this month, and Klis adds multiple staffers have as well.
The Broncos signed Glasgow to a four-year, $44MM contract this offseason. Glasgow has been an upper-echelon guard starter for a while, establishing a strong free agency market after a solid run in Detroit. Schlottmann would be in line to replace Glasgow at right guard, were he to be cleared to play.
AFC West Notes: Chiefs, Raiders, Leary
Let’s take a quick look at the AFC West, beginning with the division’s three-time reigning champion on the eve of a rather important game.
- The Chiefs‘ New England visits over the past two seasons have included monster stat lines from their running back corps. While the player responsible for most of that production (Kareem Hunt) is long gone, the Chiefs will also be without starter Damien Williams for Sunday’s Patriots game. Kansas City’s Hunt successor remains out due to a rib injury, set to miss a second straight game. The Chiefs placed Darrel Williams on IR earlier this week and will take a LeSean McCoy–Spencer Ware–Darwin Thompson contingent to Foxborough.
- Set for perhaps a do-or-die game, regarding their playoff aspirations, the Raiders will do so without their largest player. Trent Brown will miss Sunday’s game against the Titans with a pectoral injury. Second-year player Brandon Parker will start at right tackle. A second-round pick, Parker made 12 starts as a rookie but was replaced when the Raiders doled out a record contract for Brown.
- When Jon Gruden pulled Derek Carr during a blowout loss against the Jets, Mike Glennon took the snaps. Should Carr go down or be benched again this season, that would not be the case. The Raiders promoted DeShone Kizer to their backup spot, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area Notes. Kizer has been Oakland’s QB3 this season, inactive each game. He will suit up as a Raider for the first time, displacing Glennon in that role. The Raiders claimed Kizer, the Browns’ primary 2017 starter and a Packers backup last season, shortly after roster cutdown day.
- Ronald Leary‘s 12 games this season represent his most with the Broncos, but Denver will have a new right guard Sunday. A concussion will sideline Leary and move Austin Schlottman into the starting lineup, per Mike Klis of 9News. A UDFA out of TCU, Schlottman spent last season on Denver’s practice squad and has played 10 NFL snaps. Leary will exit Week 14 having missed 16 games during his three-year Broncos tenure and looms as a cap-casualty candidate next year. The Broncos can save nearly $9MM by cutting the soon-to-be 31-year-old blocker, who has one season remaining on his contract.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/19
Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contract moves:
Cleveland Browns
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- DL Devaroe Lawrence
- OL Kyle Friend
- DB Robert Jackson
- RB Devante Mays
- DB Lenzy Pipkins
- DB Tigie Sankoh*
- OL Brad Seaton
- WR Daniel Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- DT Andrew Brown
Denver Broncos
- WR Fred Brown
- QB Garrett Grayson
- WR Chad Hansen
- LB Alexander Johnson
- OL Andreas Knappe
- DE Cashaud Lyons
- RB Khalfani Muhammad
- G Austin Schlottmann
- CB Linden Stephens
- S Shamarko Thomas
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Jeff Badet
- T Adam Bisnowaty
- LB Reshard Cliett
- DT Curtis Cothran
- C Cornelius Edison
- TE Cole Hikutini
- CB Jalen Myrick
- T Storm Norton
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- RB Roc Thomas
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Joe Callahan
- P Hayden Hunt
- LS Zach Triner
Tennessee Titans
- DL Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- WR Tre McBride
* = part of the NFL’s International Player Development Program
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Denver Broncos
Placed on injured reserve:
Re-signed:
Claimed:
- QB Kevin Hogan
Cut:
- QB Paxton Lynch
Practice squad:
- RB David Williams
- TE Brian Parker
- OL Austin Schlottmann
- OL Avery Gennesy
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Carlos Henderson*
- OLB Jeff Holland
- CB Brendan Langley
- DL DeShawn Williams
- DT Kyle Peko
- S Trey Marshall
Kansas City Chiefs
Claimed:
Placed on injured reserve:
Cut:
- QB Matt McGloin
Practice squad:
- WR Josh Crockett
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- T Ryan Hunter
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- LB Rob McCray
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- DB Arrion Springs
- DB D’Montre Wade
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- DT T.Y. McGill
Cut:
- QB Cardale Jones
- LB Hayes Pullard
Practice squad:
- DE Patrick Afriyie
- WR Dylan Cantrell
- S A.J. Hendy
- LB D’Juan Hines
- WR Andre Patton
- DL Steven Richardson
- OL Trent Scott
Oakland Raiders
Claimed:
- OT T.J. Clemmings
- OT Justin Murray
Cut:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Marcell Ateman
- WR Saeed Blacknell
- TE Paul Butler
- LB Jason Cabinda
- S Dallin Leavitt
- DT Gabe Wright
- FB Ryan Yurachek
* = suspended
Broncos Make Roster Moves
The Broncos have trimmed their roster to 53 players by making the following moves:
Waived:
- LB Zaire Anderson
- WR Bryce Bobo
- WR Mark Chapman
- WR River Cracraft
- WR John Diarse
- WR Carlos Henderson
- T Austin Fleer
- RB De’Angelo Henderson
- OLB Jeff Holland
- CB Michael Hunter
- T Leon Johnson
- CB Brendan Langley
- WR Jordan Leslie
- DT Cashaud Lyons
- S Trey Marshall
- WR Isaiah McKenzie
- DE DeQuinton Osborne
- TE Brian Parker
- NT Kyle Peko
- G Jeremiah Poutasi
- OLB Marcus Rush
- OL Austin Schlottmann
- OLB Antonio Simmons
- CB C.J. Smith
- TE Austin Traylor
- WR DeAndrew White
- DE DeShawn Williams
- RB Dave Williams
Waived/injured:
- G J.J. Dielman
- T Andreas Knappe
- S Jordan Moore
- CB Marcus Rios
Released:
Placed on injured reserve:
Placed on PUP:
Broncos Sign Eight Undrafted Free Agents
The Broncos have become the latest team to bring in post-draft players, as they’ve announced the signing of the following eight undrafted college free agents:
- John Diarse, WR (TCU)
- Jeff Holland, LB (Auburn)
- Leon Johnson, T (Temple)
- Lowell Lotulelei, DT (Utah)
- Phillip Lindsay, RB (Colorado)
- Trey Marshall, S (Florida State)
- Austin Schlottmann, G (TCU)
- Jimmy Williams, WR (East Carolina)
Holland and Lindsay were Denver’s big gets, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link), as each received a signing bonus of $15K. Holland, who won’t turn 21 years old until September, put up 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks during his final season with the tigers. Lindsay, meanwhile, topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two campaigns, and will get an opportunity as a returner, per Klis.