Broncos Activate LB Drew Sanders
The Broncos have lost both Baron Browning and Alex Singleton, trading the former and seeing the latter land on IR early. A hybrid player ahead of a third-round NFL entrance, Drew Sanders is on track to help an upper-crust defense soon.
Denver is activating Sanders from the reserve/PUP list, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. Sanders has been down since April, having suffered an Achilles tear during the early days of the team’s offseason program. The Broncos waived Greg Dulcich to make room on their roster and have since seen the former third-rounder land with the Giants via waiver claim.
With Sanders coming back, the Broncos needed to clear a spot. As Josh Reynolds moves toward coming off IR, the 7-5 team will need to make another move if it wishes to activate the free agency pickup. The Broncos only have three activations remaining. Fortunately for the team, the Sanders transaction will not count against that total due to the LB being on the PUP list.
Sanders delivered an interesting final college season, displaying versatility by pairing 9.5 sacks with 103 tackles. The Broncos, who had previously moved Browning from an off-ball linebacker role to the edge years ago, have an interesting option in Sanders. They used Sanders as a spot starter last season; the ex-Arkansas and Alabama cog made four starts and played in all 17 games, making 24 tackles and recovering a fumble.
Sanders’ experience both on and off the ball stands to give Vance Joseph options. The team’s latest third-round pick, Jonah Elliss, has settled in as the team’s top rusher off the bench. Elliss has four of Denver’s NFL-high 44 sacks this season, working behind Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto. Sanders’ blitzing experience stands to help there, while Joseph could also opt to use him at ILB due to Singleton’s injury. Justin Strnad has worked as the primary fill-in alongside Cody Barton, though veterans Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham remain in the mix at that position as well.
This marks a fairly quick recovery from an Achilles tear, with Sanders following the likes of Cam Akers, Michael Crabtree and Terrell Suggs in coming back after an offseason tear. The Broncos certainly could look to keep Sanders’ workload light due to barely seven months passing since his injury.
Denver waived offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton as well, pointing to Reynolds’ activation from IR taking place this week. One of a few Saints on Sean Payton‘s second Broncos roster, Throckmorton worked exclusively as a backup this season. A career 27-game starter, Throckmorton played only three offensive snaps this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/24
Friday saw only a few minor moves take place around the NFL:
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: G Calvin Throckmorton
- Released: FB Michael Burton
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: WR Ramel Keyton, TE Justin Shorter
- Waived: WR Tyreik McAllister, TE John Samuel Shenker
Throckmorton had been used as a gameday elevation from the practice squad three times, so to remain available moving forward he needed to join Denver’s active roster. Burton’s release has allowed for that to take place, but he will be eligible to immediately re-sign to the Broncos’ taxi squad and as such find himself a gameday callup for Week 9.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/24
Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DL Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Natrone Brooks, DE Demone Harris
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- Elevated: CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB T.J. Tampa
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Eli Ankou, WR Jalen Virgil
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer, DE Jacob Martin
- Elevated: S Tarvarius Moore
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Amani Oruwariye
- Elevated: RB Dalvin Cook (story)
- Placed on IR: TE John Stephens (story)
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Kwon Alexander, G Calvin Throckmorton
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Troy Hairston
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Montrell Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: QB Carter Bradley, TE Justin Shorter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Jaylen Johnson, WR Jalen Reagor
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Ochaun Mathis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Ugo Amadi
- Elevated: WR Equanimeous St. Brown, S Roderic Teamer
- Waived: RB Jordan Mims
New York Jets
- Elevated: OL Alec Lindstrom, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Ainias Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Adrian Amos, K Anders Carlson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: CB Faion Hicks, CB Josh Jobe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Elevated: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, WR Mason Kinsey, T John Ojukwu
- Elevated: RB Joshua Kelley, QB Trevor Siemian
- Placed on IR: T Jaelyn Duncan
- Waived: OLB Caleb Murphy
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/17/24
Thursday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: RB Blake Watson
- Elevated: LB Kwon Alexander, G Calvin Throckmorton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Jermaine Johnson
- Promoted: S Johnathan Abram, WR Equanimeous St. Brown
New York Jets
- Waived: TE Brenden Bates
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated for return from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
Watson could be claimed off waivers by any teams seeking backfield depth. If that does not take place, though, he will become a free agent. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reports a mutual interest exists for team and player to reunite via a practice squad deal provided it is possible. Watson, an undrafted rookie, has made only one appearance to date so he should have a strong chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/24
Today’s minor transactions, including practice squad callups for Week 6:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: K Chad Ryland
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: G Matt Hennessy, CB Kevin King
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: RB Rasheen Ali
- Elevated: OLB Yannick Ngakoue
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: TE Ian Thomas
- Placed on IR: C Austin Corbett (story)
- Elevated: OLB Marquis Haynes
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: S Tarvarius Moore, CB Ameer Speed
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: CB Jalen Davis, C Trey Hill
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, CB Amani Oruwariye
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: DB Tanner McCalister
- Elevated: T Cameron Fleming, G Calvin Throckmorton
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DE Isaac Ukwu
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: FB Andrew Beck
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: RB Evan Hull
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Tanner Muse
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Trey Taylor
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: S Tony Jefferson
- Elevated: CB Dicaprio Bootle
New York Giants
- Elevated: WR Isaiah Hodgins, RB Dante Miller
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: WR Parris Campbell
- Elevated: OL Jack Driscoll
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: WR Ryan Miller, RB D.J. Williams
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: DT Abdullah Anderson, CB Tre Avery
Washington Commanders
- Activated from reserve/PUP: DE Efe Obada
- Elevated: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., CB Kevon Seymour
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.
Denver Broncos
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Tyler Badie, WR Michael Bandy, FB Michael Burton, G Nick Gargiulo, DE Matt Henningsen, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DB Tanner McCalister, NT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, TE Donald Parham, G William Sherman, WR David Sills, CB Reese Taylor, G Calvin Throckmorton, OLB Dondrea Tillman, TE Thomas Yassmin
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
Claimed:
- CB Eric Scott Jr.
Waived:
- CB Nic Jones
Signed to practice squad:
- S Deon Bush, TE Baylor Cupp, WR Justyn Ross, QB Bailey Zappe
Las Vegas Raiders
Signed:
Claimed:
- DB Thomas Harper, DT Jonah Laulu
Waived:
- DT Byron Young
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DE David Agoha, WR Alex Bachman, QB Carter Bradley, G Ben Brown, DT Matthew Butler, WR Jalen Guyton, RB Sincere McCormick, C Will Putnam, S Phalen Sanford, TE John Samuel Shenker, DE Charles Snowden, T Dalton Wagner, CB Sam Webb, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Chargers
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
- DB JT Woods
Signed to practice squad:
- OLB Andrew Farmer, LB Shaquille Quarterman
Broncos Release Tim Patrick, Samaje Perine To Trim Roster To 53
Teams have moved their rosters to 53 players. Here is how the Broncos pared theirs down to the regular-season limit:
Released:
- FB Michael Burton
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- C Sam Mustipher
- WR Tim Patrick
- RB Samaje Perine
- WR David Sills
- G Calvin Throckmorton
Waived:
- RB Tyler Badie
- WR Michael Bandy
- DL Elijah Garcia
- G Nick Gargiulo
- DL Matt Henningsen
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- T Demontrey Jacobs
- WR Brandon Johnson
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- S Tanner McCalister
- NT Jordan Miller
- CB Quinton Newsome
- G William Sherman
- CB Reese Taylor
- OLB Dondrea Tillman
- WR Jalen Virgil
- TE Thomas Yassmin
Waived/injured:
- OLB Durell Nchami
Placed on reserve/PUP:
IR/designated for return:
Patrick and Perine trades did not come to fruition. Both veterans are heading to free agency. Patrick had been with the Broncos since joining their practice squad in 2017; only Garett Bolles has been on the team longer. But Denver has added several wide receivers under Sean Payton‘s watch. Patrick, a John Elway-era pickup who signed an extension under GM George Paton, became expendable for the younger talent. The 30-year-old wideout has recovered from the ACL and Achilles tears that prevented him from playing a down with Russell Wilson. Humphrey may well be a practice squad option, given his New Orleans past with Payton.
Perine, 28, has been connected to a Bengals return. The veteran backup/pass-down option can now sign anywhere he chooses. Perine set a career high in receiving yardage (455) during his one-and-done Broncos run; Denver’s dead money charge ($1.5MM) will likely be offset if/once Perine lands elsewhere.
Sanders sustained an Achilles tear this offseason. The 2023 third-round pick figures to be in the team’s plans for later this season, but he will miss time — at least four games, per the PUP designation — on his rehab trek. Mathis must also miss four games, having suffered a high ankle sprain. The third-year cornerback is slated to return at some point, and the Broncos are using an IR-return designation, dropping their number from eight to seven to start the season.
Burton was viewed as a safe bet to make the team, and while roster gymnastics — which are less useful now that this IR-return tweak is in the mix — could bring him back, he received word of a release. Burton is a nine-year vet who spent last season with the Broncos. Mustipher signed this offseason but was not viewed as a true contender for the center spot, which appears set to go to 2022 fifth-round pick Luke Wattenberg.
Many of these players figure to be brought back to Denver’s practice squad, which can be set beginning Wednesday. Sixteen players will fill out that unit.
Broncos To Sign G Calvin Throckmorton
The reach of Saints-based inside jokes expanded once again for the Broncos on Monday. Sean Payton is bringing in another of his former New Orleans charges, with 9News’ Mike Klis indicating offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton is joining the Broncos.
Although the Broncos released Chris Manhertz this offseason, they re-signed Wil Lutz, Adam Trautman and Lil’Jordan Humphrey last month. The team also signed defensive tackle Malcolm Roach from the Saints. Throckmorton competed against Roach in practice for two seasons but spent the 2023 campaign with the Panthers and Titans.
[RELATED: Broncos Sign T Matt Peart]
The Panthers waived Throckmorton last year, doing so after he had made seven starts for a team that lost guard starter Brady Christensen in Week 1 and had Austin Corbett out of the mix until late October. Also sustaining a number of injuries up front, the Titans claimed Throckmorton and used him as a backup in six games. The Titans made Throckmorton an offer, per Klis, but he will instead opt to rejoin Payton (and former O-line coach Zach Strief) in Denver.
Throckmorton, 27, made 14 starts for the Saints in Payton’s final New Orleans season (2021). He has worked almost exclusively at guard in the pros. During the 2021 slate in New Orleans, the 2020 UDFA logged 626 snaps at left guard and 282 at right guard. The Saints lost Andrus Peat to a torn pec midway through that season, and they played five games without center Erik McCoy as well. Throckmorton added six starts in 2022.
Pro Football Focus has not viewed Throckmorton as a quality guard, ranking him near the bottom among regulars throughout his career. The Oregon product, however, obviously brings familiarity with Payton and Strief. The Broncos enjoyed good health along their O-line last season; starting guards Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers started throughout. Both remain under contract, but Throckmorton will enter the mix to work as an interior swingman. Peart is tentatively in place as the team’s swing tackle, with The Athletic’s Dan Duggan noting his one-year deal is for $1.3MM ($368K guaranteed).
The team losing center Lloyd Cushenberry (to the Titans) in free agency could lead to one of the 2023 backups — 2023 seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth or 2022 fifth-rounder Luke Wattenberg — moving into the lineup, though the team could still add a higher-level investment at the spot as well. One of the holdovers moving into the lineup would free up an interior backup spot. Throckmorton supplying 27 career starts, along with his familiarity with the Broncos’ offensive system, would stand to help his cause at making Denver’s 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/23
Wednesday’s minor roster moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: OL Doug Kramer
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return from IR: G Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return from IR: TE Peyton Hendershot
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LS Jake McQuaide
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: WR Parker Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Designated for return from IR: S Roderic Teamer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: OLB Justin Hollins
- Designated for return from NFI: S J.T. Woods
- Placed on IR: OLB Chris Rumph (story)
New York Jets
- Designated for return from IR: TE Kenny Yeboah
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: G Nick Zakelj
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): G Calvin Throckmorton
- Placed on IR: LB Chance Campbell
So far this year, Zakelj, the second-year interior offensive lineman, has only appeared in four games on special teams, but the team intended for him to compete with free agent signing Jon Feliciano for the backup center job behind starter Jake Brendel. With Aaron Banks out last week, and with the coaches wanting to get Feliciano more involved at right guard anyway, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Zakelj became a key backup at center. Unfortunately for Zakelj and the 49ers, a torn bicep will require surgery, taking Zakelj out for the remainder of the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/14/23
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
- Signed to active roster: OT David Sharpe
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/suspended: S Kareem Jackson
- Waived: DT Keondre Coburn
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: DE Isaac Rochell
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: TE Hunter Long
- Signed to active roster: LB Keir Thomas
- Waived: LB Zach VanValkenburg
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
- Waived: FB Adam Prentice
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated for return from IR: S Justin Evans
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: LB Kwon Alexander (story)
Following a spree of illegal hits, Kareem Jackson was hit with a four-game ban back in October. That suspension ended up getting knocked down to two games, and following that absence, the defensive back has returned to the active roster. While Justin Simmons has long resided as the Broncos’ top safety, Pro Football Focus has graded Jackson as a top-20 player at the position this season.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai suffered a back injury that will require a stint on injured reserve, although there’s a chance the veteran lineman ends up having to miss the rest of the season. After starting all 25 of his appearances for the Lions between 2020 and 2021, Vaitai has started three of his six games in 2022.
Hunter Long was a third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2021 but only lasted two seasons in Miami, hauling in a single eight-yard catch. He was part of the Rams’ offseason trade return for Jalen Ramsey but hasn’t appeared in a game this season. The tight end landed on IR in early September with a thigh injury.