Denver Broncos call up OLB Vontarrius Dora to active roster

Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Vontarrius Dora (68) hurries Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half of a preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Vontarrius Dora (68) hurries Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half of a preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

With long snapper Casey Krieter heading to injured reserve, the Denver Broncos have called up outside linebacker Vontarrius Dora to the active roster…

Practice squad call-ups are not just a recruiting pitch for undrafted players when it comes to the Denver Broncos. With the injury to long snapper Casey Krieter landing him on injured reserve, the Broncos called up Vontarrius Dora from the practice squad.

Dora spent the entire offseason with the Broncos after signing originally as an undrafted player out of Louisiana Tech. At 6-4, 256 pounds, Dora didn’t have a great showing at his Pro Day, but the Broncos saw something on the field they really liked, and Dora rewarded them with a very good preseason and training camp. It just wasn’t quite good enough for the Broncos to put him on the active roster to start the year.

This is a team that is absolutely loaded at the edge rusher position. Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett, and Dekoda Watson make up one of the deepest and most talented groups of rushers we have in this league today.

So why Dora?

The Broncos clearly see something special in him. This is not a position of need for them, so this was based purely on the merit of Dora’s work in practices and everything we can’t see as fans behind the scenes. This is a guy who has been clearly working very hard, and the Broncos continue to show they reward their own with call-ups from the practice squad throughout the season.

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Gary Kubiak spoke on Dora’s being called up to the active roster:

“Congratulations to Dora. The kid has done a great job, so he gets rewarded. I think there’s a place for him. You may see him before this year is out. He’s got a bright future…

…He’s a guy that has a big enough frame, so he could probably be an inside player at some point. For us, he’s strictly an outside linebacker.”

Perhaps Dora won’t be dressing for the game against the Patriots on Sunday, but certainly his presence on the roster provides the Broncos with additional depth and it would be great to see him get some snaps at some point.

On the active roster right now, the Broncos have 22 players in their second year or younger. There are 10 rookies on the active roster, including three rookies who were undrafted free agents and practice squad call-ups, specifically.

The Broncos know how to build from within.

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