Baron Browning

Broncos Place OLB Baron Browning On IR

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

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 MathisDoing the same may soon be necessary as it pertains to Browning.

Broncos To Activate OLB Baron Browning From PUP List

The Broncos’ altered edge rush group will welcome back a key member as early as tomorrow. Baron Browning is set to be activated from the reserve/PUP list, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Denver began the season with veterans Randy Gregory and Frank Clark as notable members of their pass-rush contingent. However, the former has been traded to the 49ers, while the latter was released after no interested teams could be found in a pick swap. Those moves cleared a path to increased playing time for the team’s younger contributors, a group which includes Browning.

The 24-year-old figures to take on snaps alongside Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper, who have combined to post 9.5 of the Broncos’ 14 sacks this season. Drafted as an inside linebacker, Browning was shifted to the outside last season and he showed considerable promise after the move. The Ohio State alum was limited to 58 tackles and one quarterback hit as a rookie, but the transition to an OLB alignment the following season resulted in five sacks, 12 QB hits and 18 pressures.

Browning suffered a meniscus injury this offseason, something which required surgery back in June. As a result of the procedure, he was moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, a designation which guaranteed at least a four-week absence. A recent report indicated Week 7 was the likely point at which he would make his debut, though, so today’s news comes as little surprise.

The Broncos’ defense has been the league’s worst in a number of categories this season, contributing in large part to the team’s 1-5 record. Denver is thus well-positioned to be in the sellers category in advance of the October 31 trade deadline, though offensive contributors appear likelier to be on the move compared to defensive ones. In any event, Browning’s return will be welcomed given the promise he showed in his first campaign as an edge rusher, along with the depth it gives the team with respect to healthy OLB options.

Broncos To Release OLB Frank Clark

OCTOBER 13: Unlike the Gregory last call, no trade partner emerged here. The Broncos are officially releasing Clark on Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. With the trade deadline still nearly three weeks away, Clark’s vested-veteran status will send him straight to free agency. Inactive for Thursday night’s game, the ninth-year veteran closes his Denver tenure with 36 defensive snaps.

OCTOBER 12: The Broncos opened the season with two 2015 second-rounders residing as their highest-profile edge rushers. By Week 7, both are likely to be out of the picture. After the Broncos dealt Randy Gregory to the 49ers, they are eyeing a separation from Frank Clark.

Rumored to be a trade candidate, Clark will not face the Chiefs tonight due to what the Broncos’ injury report classifies as an illness. The Broncos, however, are preparing to move on from Clark — via trade or release — in the near future, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports.

Clark, 30, restructured his one-year, $5MM contract recently, per Yates, giving up $1.69MM in guaranteed salary. The move trims Clark’s $3.5MM base salary to the prorated veteran minimum ($841K), NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds. This restructure will make Clark’s contract easier to move. Clark returned to action last week against the Jets, coming back after sustaining a groin injury in practice. Holding him out of tonight’s game will protect against a reinjury.

The former Seahawks and Chiefs edge rusher has generated some trade interest, and after the Gregory move, had been viewed as available. While Clark notched two double-digit sack seasons in Seattle and made memorable contributions during Kansas City’s playoff runs, he does not have a sack or a QB hit in his limited Denver run.

Although Clark will become an interesting hired gun of sorts moving forward, he spent several weeks in free agency waiting for other edge dominoes to fall. Leonard Floyd‘s one-year, $7MM Bills pact led to the Broncos giving Clark a one-year, $5MM deal shortly after they made Brandon McManus a post-June 1 cut. On that note, the Broncos should not expect too much in trade compensation here. Though, reducing Clark’s salary to the minimum will certainly help on that front. Denver collected a 2024 sixth-rounder from San Francisco for Gregory, whom the team was prepared to cut.

After calling out Gregory for poor effort in a 70-20 demolition at the Dolphins’ hands in Week 3, the Broncos benched him and moved 2022 second-round pick Nik Bonitto into the lineup. Bonitto is on a tear as a starter, combining for 4.5 sacks over the past two games. The Broncos have used 2021 seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper (three sacks) as a starter since Week 1, with Clark coming off the bench in the team’s opener. Baron Browning, a 2021 third-rounder whom the team converted from inside linebacker last year, remains on the reserve/PUP list and will not play tonight. But Browning is likely on track to debut in Week 7, Denver7’s Troy Renck adds.

Deteriorating fits notwithstanding, a suddenly woeful Broncos defense could probably use Gregory and Clark — at least while Browning is out. These separations signal more moves are likely coming for a 1-4 team. While Sean Payton stopped short of saying the Broncos were shopping veterans, other clubs believe they are open for business ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline. Trade-rumor mainstays Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are likely returning to the news cycle, with Renck adding Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson are two other names to monitor.

Clark sits behind only Willie McGinest and Bruce Smith in postseason sacks, with 13.5, but he did not live up to the five-year, $104MM deal the Chiefs gave him following a 2019 tag-and-trade transaction. Clark topped out at eight sacks in a season and has not tallied more than six in a single campaign since 2019. Two arrests on gun charges in 2021 led to a two-game suspension last year, and the Chiefs cut him this offseason. Still, Clark figures to land in a contending team’s pass-rushing rotation soon.

The Broncos picked up the pieces after John Elway‘s 1999 retirement far more quickly than they have post-Peyton Manning, and the years since the latter’s 2016 exit led to Denver becoming this period’s most prolific deadline seller. After dealing Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb over the past five years, it appears the Broncos will keep going as Payton attempts to build for the future. Jeudy and Simmons are signed through 2024, with Jeudy’s fifth-year option ($12.99MM) fully guaranteed. Sutton’s four-year, $60MM deal runs through 2025; Jackson is on a one-year contract.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/23

Today’s minor moves from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed to active roster: TE Rodney Williams

Tennessee Titans

Mitchell could be a key piece back for Baltimore in the offensive backfield. After the season loss of running back J.K Dobbins, the Ravens have been operating with a committee that includes Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Melvin Gordon, and Kenyan Drake. While just an undrafted rookie, Mitchell could immediately relieve the need for the use of Gordon or Drake off the practice squad. The East Carolina product flashed serious potential in the preseason and led the FBS last year with 54 runs of 10 or more yards.

Denver will certainly be hoping to add Browning back to its ailing defense soon. Especially with Randy Gregory finding himself off the roster today, Browning’s pass-rushing ability could be just what the team needs to get its defense back on track.

Broncos Place Baron Browning On Reserve/PUP List, Trim Roster To 53

The Broncos will join other teams in using short-term IR to create roster spots for veterans they cut Tuesday. The team also needed to use its reserve/PUP list. Here is how Denver moved down to the 53-man limit:

Released:

Waived/injured:

  • OLB Chris Allen

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Browning suffered a meniscus injury this offseason and underwent surgery in June. This obviously deals a blow to Browning’s development, seeing as the converted off-ball linebacker has yet to play a full season at his second NFL position, and Denver’s edge depth. Randy Gregory and Frank Clark lead the way at the position; both are going into their age-30 seasons. The Broncos have seen Gregory, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb miss substantial time in recent years. They will hope Browning, who showed promise opposite Chubb at points last year, can return when eligible.

The Broncos did not place Jerry Jeudy on IR, keeping their No. 1 receiver available once his hamstring heals. This points to the team viewing Jeudy as likely to come back during the season’s first four weeks. Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury late last week; the malady is expected to sideline him for “several weeks.” The team is expected to re-sign Humphrey once it reorganizes its roster, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.

Although Purcell joined Humphrey as a cut, Klis adds the veteran nose tackle is set to come back. Ditto Moreau, as K’Waun Williams is set to head to IR — a designation that will cost the veteran slot cornerback at least four games — upon undergoing ankle surgery. The Broncos kept UDFAs Elijah Garcia, a defensive lineman, and Jaleel McLaughlin, a running back, after strong preseason outings. McLaughlin is the NCAA all-levels rushing kingpin, having amassed 8,161 yards while at Notre Dame College and Youngstown State — Division II and Division I-FCS programs, respectively, in Ohio. He will be the team’s third-string running back — behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams Avoids PUP To Start Camp

JULY 27: Williams confirmed (via 9News’ Mike Klis) Thursday he has been cleared for contact work. The North Carolina alum said he was told his recovery timetable could last around a year. Instead, he has been cleared before the 10-month mark. Sean Payton said the team will proceed cautiously with Williams, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract.

JULY 23: The Broncos delivered some good news as they announced some injury list placements today, leaving third-year running back Javonte Williams off of any lists as he continues to work his way back from last year’s season-ending injury. While there’s still work to be done, Williams’s continued participation in this offseason points to a Week 1 return for Denver’s lead back.

Williams suffered a blow to his sophomore season when he suffered a torn ACL after only four weeks of play last year, ending his season. The initial diagnosis was dire enough, but further reports detailed that Williams had also torn his LCL and posterior lateral corner, making his road to recovery a bit longer.

As Denver entered into the offseason, the goal became clear: get Williams back in time for training camp. Things were looking positive as Williams was on the field for spring activities. He only worked out in a limited capacity, but getting Williams on the field at all that early was a big step. Earlier this month, Williams expressed much of the same optimism that his team had been expressing publicly, believing himself that he’d be able to make a return by training camp. His absence from any designated injury lists today is yet another good sign of where he’s at in his recovery.

Williams injury had originally occurred during a season in which he was expected to take on much more work after splitting carries with Melvin Gordon as a rookie. When he returns this season, though, there won’t be too big of an expectation to work as a bell-cow in the Broncos offense. New head coach Sean Payton is certainly familiar with two-headed rushing attacks dating back to the Pierre ThomasReggie Bush duo and the Alvin KamaraMark Ingram combinations in New Orleans. While Gordon is now in Baltimore and Mike Boone found his way to Houston, Denver plans to pair Williams with former Bengals rusher Samaje Perine, who signed with the team in March. Perine has a history of being a strong RB2 over his career, which should take a bit of the pressure off of Williams’s shoulders.

While Williams’s absence from any lists is the main news, the Broncos did move four players from the active roster, according to Broncos lead writer Aric DiLalla. Outside linebacker Baron Browning and wide receiver Kendall Hinton were placed on the physically unable to perform list, while wide receiver K.J. Hamler and nose tackle Mike Purcell were placed on the non-football injury list.

Browning underwent knee surgery in June, but he hasn’t yet been ruled out from returning in time for the regular season. Hinton also went through a knee procedure, so his placement on the list is no surprise. Hamler was expected to be ready in time for training camp as he works his way back from a pectoral tear, but Denver will have to wait a little longer.

Broncos OLB Baron Browning Undergoes Knee Surgery

JUNE 13: Browning’s offseason injury did affect the Broncos’ decision to add Clark, Sean Payton said Tuesday. Browning will begin training camp on the active/PUP list, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. This is a camp-only distinction; the Broncos can move Browning off this PUP list prior to setting their 53-man roster.

JUNE 8: Although the Broncos are adding Frank Clark to their pass-rushing group, they might be without another member of that contingent for part of training camp. Baron Browning is recovering from arthroscopic surgery to address a meniscus injury, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Browning suffered a partially torn meniscus, per Klis, who adds the third-year defender is expected to be back at some point during camp. Browning has not practiced during the media-attended portion of Broncos OTAs.

Moved from inside to outside linebacker ahead of his second season, the former third-round pick flashed at points upon replacing an injured Randy Gregory last season. Browning totaled 1.5 sacks, six QB hits and a fumble recovery during an October loss to the Colts — Denver’s first game without Gregory — and finished his season with five sacks. Browning’s injury is not related to anything from last season, with Klis noting it is believed to have come from training independently this offseason.

This knee issue comes after Gregory missed much of last season because of knee trouble. Gregory sustained his knee injury in early October, returned for two December games and did not play in Denver’s final two contests. Browning only missed three games due to hip and back maladies; two of those absences came after the team dealt Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins at the trade deadline. The player brought in to help the depleted unit at the deadline — Jacob Martin — finished last season on IR. The Broncos released Martin last month.

Browning is expected to be a key piece in Vance Joseph‘s defense this season. The Ohio State alum became the rare inside linebacker to become a quick starter on the edge, doing so after starting nine games inside in 2021. As they turned to Alex Singleton alongside Josey Jewell at that position last year, the Broncos shifted Browning to the outside in their 3-4 scheme. While Browning’s move to outside ‘backer occurred over a year ago, he will not be able to begin onsite training in Joseph’s system for a bit.

It will be interesting to what role Joseph and Sean Payton have in mind for the former five-star recruit now that Clark is in the fold. The Broncos also have 2022 second-rounder Nik Bonitto and ex-Browning Buckeyes teammate Jonathon Cooper in their OLB mix.

Broncos’ Bradley Chubb Drawing Trade Interest; Baron Browning To Miss Time

One of the more disappointing teams in recent memory, the Broncos have now lost four in a row. Despite hiring an offensive-minded head coach (Nathaniel Hackett), Denver’s offense ranks last in scoring (14.3 points per game). As a result of this offense-geared losing skid, vultures are circling.

Jerry Jeudy‘s name continues to come up in trade rumors, and Troy Renck of Denver7 adds (via Twitter) teams are interested in Bradley Chubb as well. While Jeudy can be controlled through 2024 via the fifth-year option, Chubb is playing on his fifth-year option ($12.7MM). His contract expires in March. Considering where the Broncos’ season has headed, it is certainly unsurprising to see teams show interest in a contract-year pass rusher.

Denver stockpiled an edge-rushing surplus this offseason, but that has deteriorated over the past few weeks. The depth led the Broncos to trade Malik Reed to the Steelers before setting their 53-man roster, but injuries have hit this position group hard. Randy Gregory remains on IR due to arthroscopic knee surgery, and the Broncos placed backup Aaron Patrick on IR recently. He is out for the season. Baron Browning, who has thrived after moving from inside to outside linebacker this offseason, left Sunday’s game with an injury. Browning is expected to miss several weeks because of the hip injury sustained, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

With Gregory on IR and Browning perhaps headed there, the Broncos would seemingly have a tough time unloading Chubb. The former No. 5 overall pick has battled injuries during his career — one that saw minimal contributions in 2019 and 2021 due to knee and ankle trouble, respectively — but may be a candidate for the franchise tag come March. Chubb, 26, is enjoying a bounce-back contract year; he has a team-high 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through seven games. Chubb’s re-emergence has helped the Broncos maintain a top-tier defense; the unit sits in the top three in points and yards allowed.

Gregory is under contract through 2026, at just $14MM per year, but the longtime Cowboy has now undergone three surgeries this year. His replacement, Browning, is under contract through 2024 and has shown bright flashes since being moved to the edge. The Broncos have rookie second-rounder Nik Bonitto and 2021 seventh-round pick Jonathan Cooper as its top backup edge defenders. The former stands to start in Browning’s place opposite Chubb in Week 8.

Given Gregory and Browning’s contract statuses and the price Chubb figures to command on his second deal, the Broncos entertaining offers would not surprise. They are 2-5 and have obtained value for high-profile pieces at recent trade deadlines. Denver dealt Super Bowl 50 cogs Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Von Miller from 2018-21. The Miller deal helped the Broncos trade for Russell Wilson, but that swap stripped the team of first- and second-round picks in 2023. A Chubb trade would be a way accumulate a Day 2 pick the team lost from the Wilson deal, but it also would mean bailing on a future with the North Carolina State product.

As for Jeudy, Renck notes the third-year wideout continues to generate interest (Twitter link). The Broncos are hesitant to trade the former first-rounder, whom Renck notes is close with Wilson. Denver is tied to Wilson through at least 2025, and Jeudy would seemingly profile as a building-block player around the high-priced quarterback next year compared to a trade asset. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick under long-term contract, on deals ($15MM and $10MM per year, respectively) that look rather team-friendly given where the receiver market went in 2022. Jeudy becomes extension-eligible in 2023. This year’s trade deadline falls on Nov. 1, and the Broncos will now be one of the teams to watch.

Edge Notes: Ravens, Lions, Browning, Hawks

After letting both Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue walk during the 2021 free agency period, the Ravens acquired a first-round pick in the Orlando Brown Jr. trade. The team entered the draft determined to use one of its two first-round choices on an edge defender, but strategy played a role in the team ending up with Odafe Oweh. The Ravens would have been happy with either Oweh or Greg Rousseau, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, but also wanted to leave last year’s first round with a wide receiver.

We heard previously the Ravens expected the Packers to select Bateman, whom several execs viewed as the team most likely to draft the Big Ten prospect. That played into Baltimore’s edge defender blueprint as well. The team had Oweh and Rousseau ranked similarly on its 2021 draft board, Zrebiec adds, leading to Bateman being prioritized with the No. 27 pick. Waiting for No. 31 to make its edge rusher selection paid off, as Oweh remained on the board. The Bills took Rousseau at 30. (The Packers took cornerback Eric Stokes at 29.) Through 1 1/4 seasons, Oweh has six sacks, four forced fumbles and 17 quarterback hits. Rousseau checks in with similar production, having tallied eight sacks — four already this season — along with one strip and 16 QB hits.

Here is the latest from the NFL’s edge defender landscape:

  • The Ravens used Jason Pierre-Paul extensively alongside Oweh in Week 4, playing the recently signed veteran on 55 defensive snaps. Their one-year Pierre-Paul deal is worth $1.35MM, according to OverTheCap. The contract includes a $150K signing bonus and playing time- and sack-based incentives that could take the price north of $5MM, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. This is a lower-priced deal than JPP is accustomed to signing, but he has a chance to be the rare free agent to sign in-season and earn potentially far more than the veteran minimum.
  • The Lions will be waiting a bit longer to deploy their two-Okwara edge-rushing attack. Eligible to return from the Lions’ PUP list this week, Romeo Okwara will likely need more time to recover from his 2021 injury, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes. Okwara, who suffered an Achilles tear just more than a year ago, did not return to practice this week when first eligible.
  • Detroit’s pass rush, when at full strength, is set to include Romeo and Julian Okwara, Charles Harris and first- and second-round picks Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal. That said, the Lions are adding another edge rusher to the equation. Rookie UDFA Demetrius Taylor is going to play defensive end in his debut this week, Birkett notes. Signed as a UDFA defensive tackle, Taylor will shift to a big D-end role as the Lions attempt to pick up the pieces on defense. This will likely lead to Hutchinson, who had previously played the team’s “big end” spot, rushing from around the formation, per Birkett. Taylor saw some time at D-end at Appalachian State.
  • It will not be second-round pick Nik Bonitto getting the call to replace Randy Gregory; Baron Browning will play that role for the Broncos beginning Thursday night, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. This will be an interesting stretch for Browning, whom the Broncos used as an inside linebacker during his 2021 rookie season. The third-round pick moved to the outside this offseason, helping lead to the late-August Malik Reed trade, and has impressed the coaching staff. Bonitto, who began the season as a healthy scratch despite being Denver’s top 2022 draftee, will see more time as a rotational cog behind Browning and Bradley Chubb.
  • The Seahawks will give second-rounder Boye Mafe more playing time, Pete Carroll said this week. This will be interesting considering the rookie logged a season-high 32 defensive snaps against the Lions. Mafe, who has one sack thus far this season, registered 10 in his final college campaign.