BREAKING: Broncos Add Former Alabama Linebacker to Roster, Kicks Off First Practice
Denver Broncos outside linebacker joined his teammates for his first practice on Wednesday. The Broncos had placed Sanders on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list when training camp began in July after he tore his Achilles tendon during offseason workouts.
By returning to practice, Sanders initiates a 21-day period during which the Broncos can activate him to their 53-man roster. If he is not added to the active roster within that window, Sanders will remain on the PUP list for the rest of the 2024 season. Sanders played two seasons at Alabama in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to Arkansas for the 2022 season. He was then selected by the Broncos as the 67th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In his rookie season, Sanders appeared in all 17 games for the Broncos, starting in four. He played 258 defensive snaps, accounting for 23% of Denver’s total, and contributed 297 special-teams snaps. Sanders registered 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, and recovered one fumble. Sanders returned to practice shortly after the Broncos traded outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. Browning had started two games for Denver this season.
Two more players with Alabama football ties were added back to NFL rosters on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Travis Bell, a former Jeff Davis (now J.A.G.) player, joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. Bell, the first player drafted from Kennesaw State when he was picked by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, played in two games for the Atlanta Falcons last season. After spending the offseason, training camp, and preseason with the Cincinnati Bengals, he was on the Bears’ practice squad until his release on Oct. 15.
Outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff, from South Alabama, returned to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. Sheriff made his NFL debut as an undrafted rookie in the Carolina Panthers’ season opener. The Panthers claimed him off waivers after Seattle released him at the end of the preseason. When Carolina waived Sheriff on Sept. 10, Seattle signed him to their practice squad. He played in one game as a practice-squad elevation but was released on Oct. 30.
