HEADLINES

Kyle Peko

Broncos Place DeMarcus Ware On IR

December 28th, 2016 at 5:42pm CST by Zachary Links

5:42pm: Ware needs back surgery, Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press reports. This could threaten to end Ware’s career, per Stapleton. The Broncos’ blind-side pass-rusher and vital instrument to the team claiming its third Super Bowl title last season, Ware has dealt with significant back issues over the past two seasons — missing almost all of this offseason and five games last season as a result of this issue. 

Although Ware’s contract with the Broncos is up after 2016, he expressed desire to play one more year, with Mike Klis of 9News reporting the outside linebacker wants to do that in Denver. The Broncos chose Shane Ray in the first round of the ’15 draft and have fellow backup Shaquil Barrett playing a steady role off the bench, so a Ware reunion might not be in the cards for the Broncos, at least not at the price he signed for in 2014 (three years, $30MM). The team has some cap space but has bigger issues to deal with this offseason than addressing a pass rush that still would rank toward the top of the league without Ware.

3:17pm: The Broncos are placing DeMarcus Ware on injured reserve, the team announced. Ware was unable to go in practice on Wednesday as he deals with a back injury.

This may mean that Ware has played his final game with Denver and his final NFL game. He’s slated for free agency at the end of the year and it may be time to call it a career at the age of 34. This year, Ware appeared in 10 games and totaled 15 tackles and four sacks. That’s a step down from his previous two Pro Bowl seasons with the Broncos and several notches down from his best years with the Cowboys.

From 2005-2012, Ware was a staple in Dallas’ front seven. He earned four first-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl selections during that time and he did not miss a single regular-season game. He posted double-digit sack totals for the Cowboys in every season there, except for his first and last. In 2008, he led the entire league with 20.0 sacks. If this is the end of the line for Ware, he’ll leave behind a legacy of terrorizing quarterbacks while being a mensch off the field.

In other Broncos news, defensive back Kayvon Webster was also placed on IR with a concussion. The Broncos promoted nose tackle Kyle Peko and cornerback Taurean Nixon from the practice squad to the active roster.

Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/16

September 22nd, 2016 at 8:38pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Cleveland Browns

  • Cut: P Michael Palardy

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: C Shane McDermott
  • Cut: C Jake Brendel (Twitter link via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News)

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: DL Kyle Peko
  • Cut: S Ryan Murphy (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9NEWS)

San Diego Chargers

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/16

September 20th, 2016 at 7:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:

  • The Chargers waived wide receiver Isaiah Burse, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • The Buccaneers waived linebacker Josh Keyes, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Keyes played extensively on special teams in the first two games of the season.
  • The Colts released safety Winston Guy, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • The Broncos waived defensive lineman Kyle Peko, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
  • The Giants terminated the contract of offensive tackle Byron Stingily, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). The lineman was on IR with a concussion.
  • The Bears waived fullback Paul Lasike, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Lasike saw 14 snaps in Week 1 and just five snaps on Monday night.

Broncos Trim Roster To 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 4:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have moved their roster down to 53 players by making the following transactions:

Cut:

Placed On IR:

Additionally, DT Kyle Peko was not waived, as had been previously reported.

Broncos Cut Players To Get To 53

September 2nd, 2016 at 1:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos are making their way to 53. Here’s the list of cuts: "<strong

Thompson, an undrafted free agent, clawed his way on to the 53-man roster in each of the last two season. Unfortunately, he was not able to make the final cut this year thanks to the numbers crunch in the backfield and his lingering injuries. In 2014, the Duke product ran for 272 yards off of 54 carries with three rushing touchdowns. He also added four catches for 25 yards. Last season, Thompson appeared in 15 regular season games but carried the ball only 18 times for 48 yards while adding six catches for 51 yards. Andy Janovich will likely serve as Denver’s fullback with Thompson gone.

Peko got the highest bonus of any undrafted rookie free agent this year so it is a mild surprise to see him cut. The defensive tackle and other players on today’s cut list should find their way to Denver’s taxi squad.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Broncos Agree To Terms With 21 UDFAs

May 3rd, 2016 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos have officially agreed to terms with 21 rookies who went undrafted over the weekend, according to the team’s official website. Denver’s undrafted free agent class is heavy on front-seven defenders and wide receivers — those players make up 13 of the 21 UDFAs headed to the Broncos.

Here’s the full list:

AFC Rumors: Nelson, Raiders, Chiefs, Bowers

April 5th, 2016 at 9:31am CST by Zachary Links

Vic Tafur of The San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter) expects the Raiders to get a deal done with free agent safety Reggie Nelson, who is in Oakland tonight to meet with team brass and will continue his visit with the team on Tuesday. After Nelson is wined and dined and briefed on the team’s plans for him, Tafur is expecting the Raiders to ink the veteran defender, who stands as one of the best available free agents still on the board.

Here’s more from the AFC:

  • The Chiefs worked out defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and cornerback Phillip Adams yesterday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bowers, a former second-round pick of the Buccaneers, returned to Tampa Bay late last season. Adams has been with six NFL teams and could be on his way to joining his seventh.
  • Linebacker Myles Jack is among the players visiting the Jaguars today, as Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com tweets. The 6’1”, 225-pounder saw time at both inside and outside linebacker, safety, nickel corner, and running back, and even returned the occasional kick for UCLA. He’s widely regarded as one of the best players in this year’s class.
  • Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has the details on Darryl Morris‘ one-year deal with the Jets, tweeting that the cornerback signed a minimum salary contract with a $75K signing bonus.
  • Jarvis Jenkins‘ two-year contract with the Jets calls for him to earn $6MM with $3MM ($1.5MM signing bonus + $1.5MM base) guaranteed, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Jenkins will carry a cap charge of $2.25MM in year one and $3.75MM in year two of the deal.
  • Oregon State defensive tackle Kyle Peko is visiting with the Chiefs today, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
  • Clemson safety Jayron Kearse is visiting the Jaguars today, Getlin tweets.