The Broncos on Sunday announced their eight-man practice squad. The group includes Darius Walker, pictured above, who led the team in rushing this preseason.
Marquez Branson, Tony Carter, Mitch Erickson, D.J. Johnson, Braxton Kelley, Everette Pedescleaux, Walker and Matthew Willis make up the squad.
All of the players spent time in camp with the Broncos this offseason.
Branson is a rookie free agent tight end from the University of Central Arkansas who played 23 career games in two seasons at Central Arkansas. He totaled 82 career receptions for 1,236 yards, finishing his collegiate career ranked fifth in Central Arkansas history with 18 receiving touchdowns.
Carter is a rookie free agent cornerback from Florida State University who started all 50 career games he played at FSU and totaled 139 tackles, nine interceptions and 26 passes defensed. He scored touchdowns on three interception returns and one fumble recovery return for the Seminoles, also becoming the first player in Florida State history to return a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal for scores in the same game when he accomplished the feat as a sophomore against Clemson.
Erickson is a first-year guard from South Dakota State University who joined the Broncos as a college free agent last season, and spent his rookie year on Denver’s practice squad. He started at either guard or tackle in every one of SDSU’s 44 games played during his four seasons at the school, receiving first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior.
Johnson is a rookie free agent cornerback from Jackson State University who played 24 career games in two seasons at Jackson State after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Missouri. He totaled 66 career tackles and 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, at Jackson State. He was named second-team All-America by the Associated Press and first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference as a senior.
Kelley is a rookie free agent inside linebacker from the University of Kentucky who totaled 287 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six pass breakups in 46 career games at Kentucky. He was teammates with fellow Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard in college as well as high school.
Pedescleaux is a rookie free agent defensive lineman from the University of Northern Iowa who played 51 career games at Northern Iowa and totaled 112 tackles, 11 sacks and six blocked kicks. He earned third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press as a senior in 2008.
Walker is a third-year running back who appeared in four games with two starts in Houston as a rookie in 2007, when he averaged 4.6 yards per carry along with a touchdown. He saw time on the rosters of the Texans and Rams last season, but didn’t appear in a game. He led the Broncos in rushing this preseason with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Willis is a second-year wide receiver who spent the final week of the 2008 season on Denver’s practice squad after a brief stint on Baltimore’s practice squad early in the year. He saw time in five games for the Ravens as a rookie in 2007, totaling one tackle on special teams along with an 11-yard reception.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Practice Squad
I wish Swift was with the practice squad.
Well I for one am really excited that Marshall is reinstated. Hopefully his “time out” gave him enough encouragement to get his head on straight. He is one of the best recievers in the league and we most definately need him this year. I hope he is a Bronco for the rest of his career, I just wish he would hope the same thing.
so rumors of Marshall to the Jets for O’Connel?…… That would be stupider than the Cutler trade IMO.
thanks broncofan96
its not straight up for O’connell, draft picks and other players will be involved.
I think the initial interest in O’Connell was driven by two things: system familiarity and injury concerns with the Orton and Simms. Brandstater really eased a lot of that concern in the past two games. And he brings something that McD seems to love, height. So the interest in O’Connell is a lot less necessary now. The Jets would have to bring a lot more to the dance than that for a Marshall trade, anyhow.
Speaking of which, if Marshall has been doing any listening (to folks other than his agent) over the past week, then hopefully he finally realizes he has no negotiating power. The Broncos own him for the next 3 years if they want (by Franchise tagging him twice). And, pitching a hissy is only going to make him less attractive to the rest of the league. He wants to get paid, he needs to play–and play well. Here’s hoping the light bulb has finally turned on.
Well I still don’t like it…as I said in an earlier post. I HOPE Marshall will remain a Bronco for the rest of his career. They don’t call him a BEAST for nothing, and the Broncos could definately use a BEAST for years to come.
Wuts up bronco fam……….I feel marshall will resign with the team at the end of the year if we make the playoffs…think about it…if we dont make the playoffs let marshall go and use that money to bring in playmakers on the D-side of the ball and get a few good men from the draft but if we make the playoffs we want to keep that same team and just add on to it to make a further run in the next season…idk tho just a thought…but i think he will eventually stay…….
I preety positive marshall will resign at the end of the year. the only thing holding back is himself. he needs to learn from mistakes and do his best staying away from trouble.
I would have liked Lee Robinson and Nate Swift on the PS Sqaud instead of Kelly and Willis
Chick Filet (dont know how to spell that fast food place) is giving out Chicken Sandwiches from 10:30 am to Close Tomorrow when people come in wearing the sports team on a shirt, jersey, ect. Looks like im heading down there with my Brandon Marshall jersey. Hahahahaha
hey doc you missed the draft tonight?
marshall ruined my backing for him….we should trade him for a second and third..because noone is giving up a 1st round for troubled diva….and o’connell..we have Eddie the other brandon..and McKinnly soon as he learns to not drop balls…marshall would have been a great bronco lifer..but he don’t want that…and i don’t want a selfish diva who lets his teammates down..
I can’t access my ESPN account
I’m glad we’re not letting Darius Walker escape from us. The Broncos are poised to defy the skeptics and a week from now, I fully expect to be 1-0 after we pummel the Bengals. GO BRONCOS!!!
S.D.Bronco30, Denver wears the throwback jersey in 1 game, the Pats. They will wear their orange uniforms against Dallas and Pittsburgh. It will be a colorful season, to say the least.
McD never put his feelers out for O’Connell. Never. That is pure rumor. He never negotiated with the Jets, either. His (Marshall) agent tried but Denver said NO.
I stand corrected. Denver did try to claim him off of waivers, but so did other teams. Denver would have never been able to get him.
merriman will not get suspended… It was a drunken incident and there are plenty of witness’ to keep him from getting into trouble with the league.
I really hope Marshall will come back and play hard. It is going to be very difficult for him without cutler because Orton likes to spread the ball around.
McD sure is good at stirring up QB controversies. He is doing the same thing that happened with the Cutler fiasco. Didn’t learn a thing.
broncomvp24, actually, McD likes to spread the ball around. Orton just does as he’s told.
About the O’Connell situation, baylinorcrush brought up an interesting thought. What if the Jets got O’Connell so they now have something that Denver wants? Hmmmm, could a Marshall trade be in the future?
DD- he did say that he would not do anything different. I suppose he is simply trying to look for any potential way to improve the team.
“Orton does what he is told…” The decision is up to Orton to make when he is holding the ball. He will not focus on one reciever like cuttler did.
007, could be, but I don’t think bringing in another QB who has to learn new terminology, 1 week before opening day, is the right approach. He would have no chemistry with the team. Timing of the routes, etc.. I think it would be a bad move. Lets just hope it doesn’t come to this scenario.
broncomvp24, understood, but what I’m saying is that the calls are made by McD. Orton can audible, of course, but the spreading of the ball to different receivers is part of McD’s system.
go broncos
Denver would be so stupid if they traded marshall. Let him play out the year. Then slap the franchise tag on him, and if any team wants to sign him, they will have to surrender a 1st and 3rd pick to us. I read that somewhere, and it makes total sense.
marshall just needs to grow up….turn it around like chris henry did for the bungles
Please look it up!! It is a FACT. We are undeafted at home when we wear blue on blue PANTS!!!! Broncos country please help write in until someone listens! Watch most Marshall highlights on ESPN-if not all- he is wearing blue pants. I don’t care who thinks it is silly. The proff is in the pudding.
didnt we wear blue on blue when cutler made his first start against seattle..i htink we lost that game by a field goal?..plus that game marshal began the BEAST mode
Babychamp “Marshall will resign from the team at the end of the year” ????? HUH!!!! How does he resign??? Do you mean retire? Whether he “resigns” or retires (ala Favre) the Broncos will still have ther rights to him and NOBODY else can even talk to him about playing for them. The Broncos have the rights to him for the next three years if they choose to keep them. He has a contract this year and they can franchise him the next two. Don’t know what you were smoking when you came up with that one, but you need to lay off it. Just kidding, just see no logic in your resignation assertion.
I am happy we kept Darius Walker He had a good pre-season and he deserves that shot. Does anyone know how Orton is doing?
19bk90
You are correct. that was first game Cutler was put into and that was when Marshall went into BEAST mode. Never came out of it lol. Yes we did lose but we werent at home. I think thats what atwaters the man is trying to say. Im personally not supersticious……well, I have my moments i guess…..>_> lol
hey did anyone read that piece by jerry rice on espn? on another question, i thought we wear the throwbacks in the pats and chargers game.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just read up….sounds like Marshall might be out of town….why would the jets get a 4th QB? who even has 4 qbs on thier roster? and give up a precious picl for it??? They only need him to possibly trade him cuz sanchez is the starter and it makes no sense to bring in a new guy at the end of preseason.
If this does happen. here is McDs career so far before his first NFL regular season game as a head coach…..He traded a pro bowl QB for draft picks essentially, then traded our pro bowl reciever for a back up QB. so he traded a way a pro bowl qb….when it didnt work out he traded away a pro bowl reciever to get a back up qb and more picks….So we will lose to pro bowl players for back up qb busts……Nice…Way to start of your career well McD. If he does this trade….then my dislike for him will be permanent.
PS: Who knows…maybe its not marshall. Maybe they saw something they liked in another reciever….but i doubt it. Either way….if it does happen….DD is right…..He didnt learn from his first QB controversy. He is way tooo stuck on his old team
Maybe we’re trading Marshall for Sanchez??? LOL
I just dont understand why we would want another back up when we have Orton,Simms and Brandstater who can all play.
so what if we trade marshall and get this back up qb…. then he turns around and takes us to the superbowl and becomes as great if not better than elway (or at least better than cutler) would you still hate him then?????
broncochick1: Both Orton and Simms should be ready for season opener is last I heard.
I watched Ole Miss vs. Memphis yesterday, and saw the kid you mentioned….. Jevan Snead. Looks like he has what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. Powerful arm, and mobile. Timing was off initially with WR’s but he came on during the course of the game. I won’t speculate who will draft him, but you’re right…kid looks good.
This is getting out of control. At least trade hm for some one we need.
I never even heard of Kevin O’Connell until a few days ago.
Dunno why we would either broncofan…..McD just started a horrible ripple effect coming into denver. All he had to do was leave well alone. Offense was good….needed some redzone work. A Pro Bowl QB with the Arm to spread the ball. He inherited a damn good/young team to start of his head coaching career. As a result of cutler fiasco, we lost cutler which in turn hurt our offense a little, which in turn led to an unhappy Marshall, which in turn led to mad offseason drama and un needed distractions…..and now he might possibly start up another QB controversy….WOW…all i can say is WOW.
Well he hasnt done anything yet so dont let me condem him just yet. But i doubt the jets would give up a PICK for a 4 qb that they dont need if they werent gauranteed something in return….
Here is what Kerry Rhodes had to say about this. It’s not looking good guys.
((((((
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/09/07/kerry-rhodes-hints-at-a-big-announcement/
Yea sneed is good. Actually the top 3 qbs (With the exception of Tebow) in the NCAA right now all participated in some special High school QB scout/training program or somehting….Snead, McCoy, and Bradford….saw it on youtube a while back I believe
TRB: We were at home vs. Seatte Seahawks, when Cutler started his first game for the Broncos. (December 2006). Same night Marshall caught his 1st NFL TD. It was a night game and Broncos wore Blue on Blue.
CRAP!!! It really isnt looking good. I dont know about yall but I want Marshall hear….he will help alot.
“The Broncos (McDaniels) have said that they won’t be trading Marshall (just like they said they wouldn’t be trading Jay Cutler)”
Best part of article…hense forth….if this trade happens….I will never believe a word out of Mcdaniels lips….and I was already skeptical to begin with. Im all about US and not I players…but in a few months his actions have had a ripple effect that has led to all of this
Release Brandon Marshall he is a cancer and I donate to the Cancer Society! Please allow my donations to go for a good cause! HAHAHAHA
Thought I would write that since everybody wanted to detour from the Original Blog Info.
Release him? Then anyone could pick him up for free.
TRB,
I’ll trade ya two, count’em two pennies for your one quarter.
See cuz two is more then one, you would get the better half. Now thats trading logic right there.
Even so yesterday I first brought up that Jets/O’Connell trade for Marshall bait scenario, it’s just that at this point. But it is one that makes sense where a lot of other rumors make no sense at all. Worth keeping an eye out on this one. Come on, Royalbeast, nothing in the NFL is permanent, remember, it’s the Not For Long league. If McD ends up winning us a superbowl, would you still dislike him even if he trades Marshall.
I know at this point I am one of the few, but I still believe the right thing to do is to trade Marhall if we can get a good deal. We have probably never been so deep talent wise at WR. The guy will always be a distraction, a.k.a. T.O., is one strike away from a long suspension and has health issues (hip, arm thru TVset thing).
But most important of all, if we are now buying into McD’s TEAM concept, why would we keep a me first and foremost individual could care less what the team does as long as I go to Hawai? I repeat, as always, the most important thing in any endeavor is INTEGRITY. Marshall has none and to reward him is like selling our soul to the devil. No way I’ll sell out everything I believe in just to have a dumb, mentally unstable, direspectful, arrogant, selfish guy just so we can have a “beast” at WR. A beast he is, unfortunately in the negative sense of the word. Just my opinion. I respect the opinions of the ones who think we should keep him for life, I just don’t agree with them. “Marshall must go” is my mantra for now.
Reports say that McD only wanted O’Connel to help them with the last pre-season game. Simms made it at practice yesterday without the press making a big deal. So I would assume he is OK. Orton will practice tomorrow to gage his discomfort with the stitches. As for Marshall, I truly believe that a trade is out of the question….at least for this year. Denver can get the same value for Marshall in the offseason if not better than they could get now. I see him having a huge year in denver and getting a phat pay day some time near mid-season. I see Denver surprising a lot of people this year.