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Denver Broncos: 2017 draft picks highlight 11-man practice squad

By Sayre Bedinger

GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 30: Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie #16 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football during the preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 21-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 30: Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie #16 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football during the preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 21-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos have assembled their 11-man practice squad after making a number of roster moves. Some of the 2017 NFL Draft class has returned.

The Denver Broncos unofficially set their 53-man roster on Saturday, and predictably made a change on Sunday.

The roster move on Sunday turned out to be a move to get former first-round pick Paxton Lynch off the roster, as the team claimed Kevin Hogan from the Washington Redskins.

As the shock of a recent first-round pick getting cut sets in, let’s try and digest what the Broncos have done to supplement the roster via the 11 players they added to the practice squad.

As roster cuts were coming in on Saturday, it was apparent the Broncos would need a bit of luck to get one of their top undrafted players (Jeff Holland) and four of their 2017 NFL Draft picks through waivers.

That is exactly what happened.

Of the players the Broncos waived, not a single one was claimed by another team. 23 NFL teams had players claimed by NFL teams, but not the Denver Broncos.

On a roster this deep, that’s pretty incredible.

The Broncos added 11 players to their practice squad, though after week one of the regular season, they will have to make a move as wide receiver Carlos Henderson serves a one-game suspension.

Here’s the initial 11 practice squad players the Broncos have added:

Dave Williams, RB
River Cracraft, WR
Carlos Henderson, WR
Brian Parker, TE
Austin Schlottmann, OL
Avery Gennesy, OL
Kyle Peko, DL
DeShawn Williams, DL
Jeff Holland, OLB
Brendan Langley, CB
Trey Marshall, S

This isn’t exactly like we drew it up in the ‘ideal practice squad‘ post, but it’s not far off at all.

What makes this ideal is the fact that the Broncos were able to keep all but one of their 2017 NFL Draft class on the roster.

De’Angelo Henderson decided to sign on with the New York Jets’ practice squad instead of Denver’s, if there was ever an offer on the table anyway.

The biggest news here is that Carlos Henderson is returning to the team. He posted on his Instagram page that he was coming back and ‘grateful’ for the opportunity.

It’s great to see the Broncos get another chance to see what Henderson’s got.

dark. Next. Broncos 53-man roster set

The Broncos also were able to get Jeff Holland back after it was rumored he was drawing interest from a number of teams around the league.

Holland has a chance to contribute to this team for a long time with two pass rushers in Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett free agents after the season.

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