Kyle Peko returns to practice for Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos nose tackle Kyle Peko, a 2016 undrafted free agent gem, has returned to practice after suffering a broken foot in OTAs…
The Denver Broncos have received plenty of bad news on the injury front this offseason, especially on the defensive line. Nose tackle Kyle Peko was looking to lock down the backup nose tackle job until he broke his foot during OTAs.
Now, the Broncos are getting him back.
The timing of this is very interesting, but it makes sense considering the team is trying to decide what to do at the nose tackle spot with rookie undrafted free agent Tyrique Jarrett, who made some eye-popping plays against the Packers.
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Peko will, presumably, get a chance to compete in the Broncos’ final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. That wouldn’t necessarily be ‘enough’ to earn him a roster spot, but that’s where the Broncos’ coaching staff and scouting department are going to need to rely on prior knowledge of what this kid can do when it comes to keeping him on the final roster or not.
He definitely made an impression a year ago, and had some extended snaps against the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 season finale. He looked good with the reps he was given, and has stayed in the second spot on the Broncos’ defensive depth chart at nose tackle despite his injury and placement on the PUP.
As far as I know, the Broncos could have kept him on the PUP and saved a chance to evaluate him later on this season, but they decided to activate him now. That indicates to me they want him to get one game in before being ready for regular season action. I don’t know if the team is going to keep Tyrique Jarrett on the 53-man roster or not, but if they could keep Peko on the 53 and Jarrett on the practice squad, that might be their preferred option at this point.