On Monday, Brandon McManus sent out a tweet stating that he had been placed on the Denver Broncos COVID-19/reserve list this week, after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive while away from the facility.
I will be going on the Reserve/COVID-19 list because of a close contact outside the building. Still plan on playing Saturday
— Brandon McManus (@thekidmcmanus) December 14, 2020
At the the time, the thought was that it shouldn’t impact his availability for Sunday’s game, but with McManus still on the COVID-19 list as of Friday, it now looks like the Broncos will have to turn to emergency backup kicker Taylor Russolino.
Russolino most recently kicked in the now-defunct XFL for the St. Louis Battlehawks, and while there drilled a 58-yard attempt.
The Broncos added Russolino off the recommendation of special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, who was tipped off to the XFLer’s booming leg by Pat McAfee, who called a game for the Battlehawks during the XFL season and punted under McMahon’s coaching while with the Colts.
“Pat McAfee did a game in the XFL and he called me and said, ‘Hey, there’s a guy that fits your criteria and some of the traits that you look for.’ That’s when I started following Taylor. He fit some traits, and when this thing came up and when we wanted to bring in a COVID kicker in case we needed him, he was the first name I gave to [the scouting department].”
Russolino will try to right the Broncos’ ship in regard to kicking, as over the past two weeks, McManus has missed three of seven attempts, two of which were extra points.
In other, more positive news for McManus, he has been named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 14. McManus won the award for his efforts in launching a relief program to help some of the many people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
McManus provided $15,000 to three Colorado-based restaurants and another $15,000 to help cover mortgage payments and rents for single-parent households and mothers that are victims of domestic abuse.
