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Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/24

September 28th, 2024 at 7:27pm CST by Ely Allen

Minor transactions and practice squad callups for the Week 4 weekend:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Elevated: G Kyle Hergel

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Broncos’ Alex Singleton Suffers ACL Tear

September 25th, 2024 at 1:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos’ sudden interest in experienced linebackers comes as a result of a significant blow. Denver will not have Alex Singleton at its disposal for the season’s remainder.

Sean Payton said Wednesday that the team’s top tackler suffered an ACL tear during the Week 3 win in Tampa. Singleton is out for the year and will undergo surgery in two weeks, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Denver has since added both Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to its practice squad; both veterans may soon be moving to the active roster.

This is an unfortunate development for all parties, as Singleton anchors Denver’s ILB group post-Josey Jewell and is set to turn 31 at season’s end. The Broncos re-signed the former UDFA in 2023 and have seen him author a prolific stretch — one that helped them rebound after a rough defensive start last season. Singleton has strung together back-to-back 160-plus-tackle seasons, not missing a game during that span in Denver.

Payton said Singleton played two thirds of Sunday’s game with the tear, but knowing the injury’s severity obviously changes the team’s plans. Cunningham and Alexander join a thin linebacking corps, which lost Jewell after the six-year contributor reunited with Ejiro Evero in Charlotte. The Broncos also lost Jonas Griffith to another season-ending injury and are without hybrid linebacker Drew Sanders due to an offseason Achilles tear. Sanders may well be back before season’s end, but the team still does not have much behind import Cody Barton. Special-teamer Justin Strnad and former UDFA Kristian Welch are in place on Denver’s 53-man roster.

The Broncos have Singleton on a three-year, $18MM contract. Initially acquired to play in Evero’s defense in 2022, Singleton signed a low-end contract after the Eagles non-tendered him as an RFA. Despite Philly seeing the Montana State alum rack up 137 tackles in his second season as a regular on its defense, Singleton was not deemed a priority for a team that has not spent much at that position in recent years. The Broncos paid Singleton in 2023, doing so despite having already given Jewell a midlevel deal. After Singleton’s 177-tackle season — complete with two 20-plus-tackle games — he ended up taking Jewell’s place as the team’s highest-paid off-ball ‘backer.

Singleton, who totaled two sacks last season and has registered six tackles for loss in two straight years, does not have any guaranteed money left on his deal post-2024. Originally a 2015 UDFA, he ended up debuting in the NFL late after a three-year stay with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. As Singleton has made up for lost NFL time, he has encountered a high hurdle. The Broncos, who rank sixth in scoring defense and third in yardage, will also face significant questions as they are set for 14 games without their 2022 find.

Broncos To Sign LB Zach Cunningham, Move RB Tyler Badie To Active Roster

September 25th, 2024 at 1:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Broncos prevailed in Tampa and have displayed far superior defensive form compared to the early weeks in Vance Joseph‘s DC tenure, they continue to add veteran linebacker pieces. After signing Kwon Alexander, Denver is bringing in Zach Cunningham.

There are no Saints ties with Cunningham, whom 9News’ Mike Klis notes is joining the Broncos’ practice squad, but he also carries extensive experience as a second-level defensive piece. Cunningham, 29, spent last season with the Eagles after a career in the AFC South (Texans, Titans).

[RELATED: LB Alex Singleton Suffers ACL Tear]

This turned out to be an emergency hire, as the team will be tasked with playing without its top tackler (Singleton) after the $6MM-per-year player suffered a season-ending injury. Cunningham and Alexander, 30, will be vying for time — potentially soon — for a Broncos team that lost Josey Jewell in free agency. As a result, depth is thin for this group. Cody Barton is the only proven ILB left on Denver’s active roster; that may change soon.

A full-time starter for the Texans, Cunningham signed a lucrative extension in 2019. He fell out of favor during the Texans’ early-2020s dark ages, despite leading the NFL in tackles in 2020 (with 164), becoming a healthy scratch during David Culley‘s season in charge. The Titans claimed Cunningham and turned to him as a starter during a season that ended with Tennessee securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The former second-round pick battled injuries in Tennessee, starting four games to close out the 2021 season but going on IR twice in 2022. As GM Ran Carthon took over in 2023, he made Cunningham one of his many cap-casualty moves.

Last season, the Eagles used Cunningham as a 10-game starter after signing him midway through training camp. He played in 13 contests and logged every defensive snap in the team’s wild-card game, one that punctuated a season that featured a collapse. Despite the Eagles cratering, Pro Football Focus viewed Cunningham as an above-average player and graded him well in coverage. The Eagles did not bring back Cunningham, and the eight-year vet — he of 85 tackles and four pass breakups in 2023 — did not attend a training camp. As such, it would not surprise to see the Broncos hold off on an immediate promotion.

Denver is also making an interesting move at running back. After Tyler Badie showed some promise to help a struggling rushing attack against the Buccaneers, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson adds the team is signing the young RB to its 53-man roster. Badie joins Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie UDFA Blake Watson on Denver’s active roster.

A Missouri alum the Ravens chose in the 2022 sixth round, Badie has been with the Broncos since late in the at ’22 season. He did not play last season, being stationed behind Williams, McLaughlin and Samaje Perine, but delivered his best NFL work last week. Badie, who followed Montee Ball in informing the masses of a pronunciation change as he transitioned to a Broncos RB role, gained 70 yards on nine carries and helped the Broncos close out the Buccaneers. With Williams struggling, Badie now looms as a direct threat to the contract-year starter’s playing time.

Broncos To Add LB Kwon Alexander

September 25th, 2024 at 8:54am CST by Sam Robinson

Familiarity with Sean Payton continues to land certain players gigs in Denver, as a handful of ex-Saints assistants are also on the second-year HC’s staff. Add Kwon Alexander to the Saints-to-Broncos pipeline.

The veteran linebacker worked out for the team, per 9News’ Mike Klis, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes the club is making a practice squad addition. Alexander will join the Broncos at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, where they are practicing in preparation for their Week 4 game against the Jets.

Coming back from the second Achilles tear of his NFL career, Alexander had previously auditioned for the Falcons and Vikings. The Broncos saw enough to greenlight this reunion. Alexander will join a Broncos team that already houses seven ex-Saints — Adam Trautman, Wil Lutz, Malcolm Roach, Calvin Throckmorton, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Lucas Krull and Jordan Jackson — on its active roster.

Alexander spent 2022 with the Jets and 2023 with the Steelers but was dealt from the 49ers to the Saints in 2020 and played all of the 2021 season — Payton’s New Orleans finale — with the NFC South team. Alexander, 30, started 15 games with the Saints under Payton. He aided a division champion in 2020 and recorded 3.5 sacks, despite operating primarily as an off-ball LB, in 2021

While the Broncos’ ILBs coach (Greg Manusky) was not in New Orleans during that time, ex-ILB Michael Wilhoite — Denver’s OLBs coach — was on Payton’s staff during Alexander’s tenure. Alexander also recovered a fumble against the Broncos during a 2020 matchup best remembered for the AFC West team having no active QBs due to COVID-19.

Formerly a standout Buccaneers ‘backer who earned a lucrative 49ers free agency deal in 2019 despite coming off an ACL tear, Alexander saw his first Saints season end due to an Achilles tear and sustained the same injury — albeit to his other Achilles — in November of last year. The Saints still re-signed the talented defender in August 2021. Alexander has played effectively in spurts. He started 12 games for a top-five Jets defense in 2022. Last season, Pro Football Focus graded the nine-year vet as a plus coverage ILB. Though, the Broncos will surely want to see how he looks in practices given the extensive injury history here.

Denver signed Cody Barton to start alongside Alex Singleton this offseason, letting Josey Jewell defect to the Panthers. Jonas Griffith had competed with Barton for that gig but did not make the team, suffering another major injury. Justin Strnad and Kristian Welch are in place as Denver’s second-string ILBs. Alexander will surely have a chance to move up to the 53-man roster soon.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/24

September 24th, 2024 at 7:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

 Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts but he quickly landed a deal with the Lions on their practice squad. Healthy after back-to-back years featuring major injuries, the 30-year-old has twice been a gameday elevation so far this year and logged a 44% offensive snap share. He will aim to remain in a depth role while now permanently on the active roster.

Covey will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks given today’s move. His injury is particularly notable given the fact A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are both injured at the moment, thinning out the team’s receiver room. Covey, 27, received seven targets across the past two games and Philadelphia will need to turn to other options for a complementary role at wideout (along with the return game).

Broncos Place OLB Baron Browning On IR

September 21st, 2024 at 8:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

On Friday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton acknowledged Baron Browning could find himself on injured reserve. The fourth-year edge rusher has indeed now been moved to IR.

As a result, Browning will be sidelined for at least the next four games. A foot injury kept the former third-rounder out of practice all week, and today’s move confirms an extended recovery process will be needed. His absence will leave Denver without a starter along the edge as the team looks to rebound from its 0-2 start.

Browning posted five sacks in 2022, his first season after transitioning from inside to outside linebacker. The Ohio State product was limited to 10 games last year, but his 4.5 sacks during that span showed his potential as a key figure in the Broncos’ edge rush setup. 2024 was set to be an important campaign for team and player, and as a pending free agent Browning will look to get back on the field as soon as possible.

In the meantime, 2021 seventh-rounder Jonathon Cooper, 2022 second-round selection Nik Bonitto and third-round rookie Jonah Elliss will be counted on for the Broncos along the edge. Bringing Browning back into the fold will use up one of the seven IR activations Denver has available. The 25-year-old’s rehab will be worth monitoring over the coming weeks.

To fill his roster spot, wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey was promoted from the practice squad. One of several former Saints who made his way to the Mile High City to reunite with Payton, Humphrey bounced on and off the Broncos’ active roster last season. He was a gameday elevation for each of the first two weeks of the year, and the 26-year-old has logged a notable 52% snap share so far. It comes as no surprise he is now in position to handle a more permanent role on the roster.

Denver elevated running back Tyler Badie along with defensive back Tanner McCalister for tomorrow’s contest. Both could handle depth roles as the Broncos look to take a needed step forward on both sides of the ball in Week 3. Browning will not be in the picture for the foreseeable future, though.

IR Possible For Broncos OLB Baron Browning

September 20th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

A foot injury will keep Baron Browning out for Week 3. The fourth-year Broncos edge rusher could be sidelined for an extended period, however.

Head coach Sean Payton replied “we’ll see” when asked if Browning could land on injured reserve (h/t Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). Placing him on IR would guarantee at least a four-game absence and leave the team without a key defender. Browning has started each of the Broncos’ games in 2024, having done so 26 times during his previous three seasons.

Injuries have been an issue for the 25-year-old during his NFL tenure. Browning was limited to 14 games during each of his first two campaigns, and a meniscus injury left him unavailable for the start of the 2023 season. When healthy, he has been a key contributor by logging a snap share of at least 60% every year from 2021-23. A switch from inside to outside linebacker was followed by numerous veteran departures along the edge, paving the way for Browning to handle a regular pass-rushing role.

The Ohio State product notched five sacks in 2022, and he followed that up with 4.5 in only 10 games last year. That production led to high expectations ahead of this season, but Browning was held to just five tackles and no pressures prior to suffering his latest injury. As a pending free agent, an extended stay on the mend would hinder his market value in addition to leaving Denver without a starter in the front seven.

With Browning on the sidelines for at least Sunday’s game, the Broncos will rely on Jonathan Cooper, Nik Bonitto and third-round rookie Jonah Elliss along the edge. The team dedicated one of its eight IR activations before the regular season started in the case of cornerback Damarri Mathis. Doing the same may soon be necessary as it pertains to Browning.

Broncos Work Out T Cameron Fleming

September 19th, 2024 at 6:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Suddenly shorthanded at tackle along a high-priced offensive line, the Broncos are set to turn to a UDFA who missed all of his 2023 rookie season. As Alex Palczewski prepares to take over for Mike McGlinchey, Denver is looking into veteran options as well.

The Broncos brought in a familiar face for a Thursday workout. Cameron Fleming auditioned for his most recent NFL employer, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Fleming joined recently cut Commanders O-lineman Braeden Daniels at the workout.

[RELATED: Broncos OL Quinn Bailey Out For Season]

Fleming, 32, would supply the Broncos experience they lack. Denver has Palczewski and ex-Giants swingman Matt Peart in place as backup options for McGlinchey and Garett Bolles. The team did not need to turn to backup help much in 2023, with four of its five O-line starters (all but McGlinchey) playing 17 games. McGlinchey was available for the team’s first 16, but to start this season, the veteran RT is on IR with an MCL sprain. For the time being, Palczewski — an Illinois standout who spent all of last season on IR — will be asked to start opposite Bolles.

Fleming started in place of McGlinchey in Week 18 and saw more action for less healthy Broncos O-lines in 2021 and ’22. Brought in initially after Ja’Wuan James suffered an Achilles tear away from the team’s facility in 2021, Fleming started four games for that Denver edition but was needed for 15 starts in 2022. The Broncos used a different Week 1 right tackle starter each year from 2013-23. Fleming took his turn on that carousel in 2022, with his 15-game season coming two years after he served as the full-time Giants RT.

Pro Football Focus graded Fleming as a solid option, particularly in pass protection, in 2022. He re-signed with a rebooted Broncos team in 2023. Not too much interest came the journeyman blocker’s way this offseason, though the tackle-needy Browns auditioned him in August. The Broncos had struggled to provide sufficient protection for Bo Nix with their starting quintet in place, and the McGlinchey-to-Palczewski experience gap is obviously rather wide. Fleming could help fill the void, having familiarity with Sean Payton‘s system.

Daniels enjoyed a short Texans stint following his Commanders cut, as the rebuilding NFC East team cut five 2023 draftees. Houston also moved on from the second-year player, doing so this week. Daniels, 24, profiles as more developmental option; the former fourth-round pick has yet to play a regular-season snap.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/18/24

September 18th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

  • Signed from practice squad: OLB Dondrea Tillman

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed from practice squad: OL Justin Dedich

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

A five-year Giants contributor, Ximenes logged 14 defensive snaps through two Patriots games. A rookie UDFA out of James Madison, Kromah has not played in a regular-season game yet. Because the Pats poached Kromah from the Bears’ P-squad, he must remain on New England’s 53-man roster for three weeks.

Additionally, free agent defensive back Alex Brown received a three-week suspension, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Brown has not been on an NFL roster since 2021 and has not played in a game since 2019.

Broncos Place RT Mike McGlinchey On IR

September 18th, 2024 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos enjoyed near-perfect attendance along their offensive line last season. As the team attempts to develop Bo Nix, one of its blockers will be out of the mix for a while.

Not intending to go week-to-week with Mike McGlinchey‘s MCL sprain, Denver is placing (via 9News’ Mike Klis) its right tackle on IR. The high-priced blocker went down during the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers and will be unable to return until at least Week 7.

This move comes weeks after the team lost swing backup Quinn Bailey for the season. Alex Palczewski, a 2023 UDFA who did not play as a rookie, is set to step in, per Sean Payton. Palczewski spent all of last season on IR, being placed on the injured list just before last season.

Given a five-year, $87.5MM deal, McGlinchey started 16 games in his Broncos debut. This came as Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Lloyd Cushenberry and Quinn Meinerz suited up for 17 contests. This remarkable run of health contrasted from the 2022 season, when Denver played stretches without Bolles, Cushenberry and Meinerz. That year also featured RT instability, leading to yet another investment in a position the franchise had struggled to fill since the Peyton Manning years.

In Week 1, McGlinchey became the first Bronco to open back-to-back seasons at right tackle since Orlando Franklin from 2012-13. The Broncos poached the veteran from the 49ers, who had stood down while paying Trent Williams top LT money, and gave him a contract that called for his 2025 salary ($17.5MM) to become fully guaranteed in March 2024. McGlinchey’s 2025 money vested after he submitted a middling first season in Denver. Though, the Broncos could find a gulf between a seventh-year vet — who was a top-10 pick — and a UDFA set for his third career game.

The team signed Matt Peart as a swing option this offseason, and the veteran played both right and left tackle in New York. Palczewski, 25, earned second-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America acclaim in his final Fighting Illini season. After being in Payton’s system for a year (albeit on IR), he will be entrusted to help protect Nix amid the rookie QB’s sluggish start.

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