The Denver Broncos have made two roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. As has been standard, the team elevated two practice squad players to their gameday roster to help fill the void on special teams.
Denver Broncos elevate two players from practice squad to gameday roster
The Denver Broncos will utilize help from their practice squad on Sunday, elevating linebacker Levelle Bailey and safety Tanner McCalister. Both players have been on the practice squad since Week 1, and Bailey is seeing his first gameday elevation on Sunday. McCalister is being elevated for the second week in a row after JL Skinner was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Denver’s safety depth right now with Skinner out consists of P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones as the starters. Behind them, Devon Key and Tanner McCalister will fill out the backend depth and next line of defense in the event of an injury.
Bailey is being elevated to help the Broncos out on special teams after Alex Singleton’s season-ending ACL injury has impacted what the rotation of the inside linebacker position will be. Veteran Cody Barton will start and get the green dot on defense this week, whereas Justin Strnad or Kristian Welch could get the nod to start opposite him. Regardless, Denver will need help from a linebacker body type on special teams to account for the new starting linebacker duo that will be on the field on Sunday as the Broncos defense looks to stop the rushing attack of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen while simultaneously trying to limit Aaron Rodgers and the passing game.
Earlier in the week, the Broncos also signed veteran linebackers Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to the practice squad this past week, but they won’t see any action on Sunday. As they go about learning the playbook and getting acclimated, it’s possible they’ll be elevated at some point in the next three to four weeks.