Two days after placing Ebenezer Ekuban on the injured-reserve list and trading Gerard Warren to the Oakland Raiders, the Broncos signed former Chiefs defensive lineman John Browning.
Browning — who was primarily a tackle but also filled in at end from time to time during his 11 seasons with the Chiefs — has been out of football since reaching an injury settlement with Kansas City last fall on Sept. 30. The Chiefs placed him on injured reserve with a back injury 28 days earlier.
The 12-year veteran started 12 games and played in all 16 as recently as the 2005 campaign, finishing that year with 35 tackles (31 solo), two sacks (14 yds.), four passes defensed and one forced fumble. He had been fairly durable prior to that, and was a starter on the Chiefs team that went 13-3 back in 2003. The question is — what will he have after missing the last year, and how does he feel? We’ll start learning the answer to that question this afternoon.
Browning will wear jersey No. 98 — which, coincidentally, last belonged to fellow ex-Chief defensive lineman Carlos Hall before he left the team just before the start of training camp.
What do you think of the signing? Will he help the Broncos’ front line? Sound off below (or, if you’re on the main blog page, click “Comments” and fire away) … and until next entry, vaya con Dios.
Lost amidst all the fuss about the trade for Dré Bly last month was the status of the incumbent cornerback opposite Champ Bailey — third-year player Domonique Foxworth, who started nine games (including playoffs) as a rookie and then drew notice for his admirable work as an emergency fill-in at safety last December.