Deiontrez Mount‘s season has ended before it could even begin. The linebacker suffered a torn Achilles while rushing the quarterback during OTA practices and will have season-ending surgery this week, according to Mike Klis of 9News. 
Mount played in the Broncos’ final seven games last season as a core special teams player and recorded six tackles in total. Before joining the Broncos’ practice squad last year (and eventually earning a promotion), Mount spent time with the Titans and Colts.
Mount’s injury could improve the chances of fellow linebackers Stansly Maponga, Marcus Rush, Jerrol Garcia-Williams, Joseph Jones, and sixth-round pick Keishawn Bierria as they look to make the final cut. The Broncos project to start Shane Ray, Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, and Von Miller at linebacker in their 3-4 set with Shaquil Barrett, Zaire Anderson, and fourth-round pick Josey Jewell among their primary backups.
After a disappointing 2017, the Broncos retooled their team in hopes of getting back on track. This week, PFR readers were asked to vote on which team had the best offseason in the AFC West and the Broncos are not far from the lead.