What are the roster implications for the Denver Broncos after the season-ending Achilles injury for outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount?
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount got some terrible news on Wednesday when it was discovered he suffered a torn Achilles at Tuesday’s practice.
Mount initially limped off the field after the injury and then was carted off the practice field and into the locker room.
Mike Klis reported the injury for Mount is a season-ender.
Mount, 25, is a fourth-year player out of Louisville who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft.
He intercepted a pass off of Jameis Winston in his first NFL game, but only went on to play four games total as a rookie. He appeared in one game in 2016 for the Indianapolis Colts before they released him off injured reserve in the 2017 preseason.
The Broncos picked him up just before the end of the preseason and he was signed to the practice squad after final cuts.
He appeared in a career-high seven games for the Broncos, playing in 31.1 percent of the special teams snaps.
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That means that when Mount was activated off the practice squad, he instantly became one of the team’s core special teamers.
He only played 44 defensive snaps, the majority of which came in week 17 against the Chiefs, but he played well in those limited snaps.
Mount was an intriguing young player at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds with excellent athleticism and length off the edge. How will the Broncos replace him?
Though Mount wasn’t expected to play a major role this season or even make the final 53-man roster, he is a very solid young player who was providing strong competition at the outside linebacker position.
His injury means we’ll be seeing more of undrafted rookie Jeff Holland out of Auburn, and veterans Stansly Maponga and Marcus Rush, who have both bounced around a few different teams.
Even without Mount, the Broncos’ competition at outside linebacker will be very strong, as Holland specifically was among those expected to compete for a roster spot.
He was also given a hefty $15,000 bonus as one of the team’s most coveted undrafted free agents.
We should know before too long if the Broncos want to add someone to the roster to take Mount’s place on the field. They could give another edge player a chance, or they could add at a position that is not quite as strong like tight end.