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After losing Brandon Jones to a pectoral injury, the Denver Broncos are expected to turn to P.J. Locke as a fill-in starter across from Talanoa Hufanga. The team's depth safeties behind them are Devon Key and JL Skinner (plus Delarrin Turner-Yell on the practice squad).
The Broncos also have rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron, who has played rotational snaps at safety. So the team will likely turn to in-house options to replace Jones in the starting lineup, but they could still use more depth at safety. Here's a quick look at five veteran free agents Denver could consider, perhaps for a spot on the practice squad.
1. Jordan Whitehead (28): He's a Super Bowl champion with 11 interceptions on his resume, but he hasn't played since a car accident prematurely ended his 2024 season. He played in 12 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before that crash last fall and has since recovered. Whitehead worked out for the Atlanta Falcons earlier this year.
2. John Johnson (29): The NFL suspended Johnson for the first three games of the 2025 season for an undisclosed reason. The suspension has long since ended, but he remains a free agent with 15 interceptions on his resume.
3. Vonn Bell (31): A former New Orleans Saints second-round draft pick under Sean Payton, Bell played in all 17 games with the Cincinnati Bengals last season but has remained unsigned in 2025. He has eight career interceptions.
4. Adrian Amos (32): He had a stint on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad last season but hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. He was a 17-game starter with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, but only has three starts on his resume since then.
5. Justin Simmons (32): The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro needs no introduction to Broncos fans, but it's unclear if he would be willing to return to Denver after being cut by Sean Payton in 2024.
The Broncos have three games remaining on their regular season schedule, and they've already clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs. Up next, Denver will attempt to clinch the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: 5 free agent safeties for Broncos after Brandon Jones injury
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The Broncos also have rookie cornerback Jahdae Barron, who has played rotational snaps at safety. So the team will likely turn to in-house options to replace Jones in the starting lineup, but they could still use more depth at safety. Here's a quick look at five veteran free agents Denver could consider, perhaps for a spot on the practice squad.
1. Jordan Whitehead (28): He's a Super Bowl champion with 11 interceptions on his resume, but he hasn't played since a car accident prematurely ended his 2024 season. He played in 12 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before that crash last fall and has since recovered. Whitehead worked out for the Atlanta Falcons earlier this year.
2. John Johnson (29): The NFL suspended Johnson for the first three games of the 2025 season for an undisclosed reason. The suspension has long since ended, but he remains a free agent with 15 interceptions on his resume.
3. Vonn Bell (31): A former New Orleans Saints second-round draft pick under Sean Payton, Bell played in all 17 games with the Cincinnati Bengals last season but has remained unsigned in 2025. He has eight career interceptions.
4. Adrian Amos (32): He had a stint on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad last season but hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. He was a 17-game starter with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, but only has three starts on his resume since then.
5. Justin Simmons (32): The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro needs no introduction to Broncos fans, but it's unclear if he would be willing to return to Denver after being cut by Sean Payton in 2024.
The Broncos have three games remaining on their regular season schedule, and they've already clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs. Up next, Denver will attempt to clinch the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: 5 free agent safeties for Broncos after Brandon Jones injury
Continue reading...
