Denver Broncos add Mike Purcell, Jake Rodgers to roster
The Denver Broncos signed defensive lineman Mike Purcell and offensive lineman Jake Rodgers to their active roster on Monday.
The Denver Broncos announced on Monday that they had made several roster moves. The first move that was reported was the reunion with defensive lineman Billy Winn, who spent some time with the team as recently as 2017 before hurting his knee.
The other two roster moves that were announced were the signings of defensive lineman Mike Purcell and offensive lineman Jake Rodgers.
We've signed DL Billy Winn, DL Mike Purcell, and OL Jake Rodgers.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 22, 2019
So what do these guys bring to the table?
Billy Winn, DL
As Graham Tiedke previously wrote, this is Winn’s second stint with the Denver Broncos and with a third different coaching staff.
Winn played 16 games for the Broncos (two starts) in the 2016 season and recorded 19 tackles playing as a rotational lineman in then-coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme.
He reunites with Bill Kollar on the defensive front in Denver.
Mike Purcell, DL
Purcell, 28, is a 6-foot-3, 303-pound nose tackle who competed for Vic Fangio with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2013.
The Highlands Ranch, CO native scratched and clawed his way onto the 49ers’ active roster after initially making their practice squad as a rookie.
He reunited with Fangio for a bit with the Chicago Bears in 2017 on their practice squad.
Apparently, Purcell has made enough of an impression on Fangio to get a third look from him as a possible depth option.
Jake Rodgers, OL
Rodgers is a former FCS All-American out of Eastern Washington who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons provided Rodgers the first of many opportunities he’s now had in the NFL.
Including his multiple stints with one specific team, this is Rodgers’ 10th NFL stop.
His most notable stop — or stops, I should say — is with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have acquired Rodgers on three separate occasions, including signing him to the active roster, practice squad, and claiming him off of waivers.
Why is that significant?
The offensive line coach in Pittsburgh throughout that time was, of course, current Denver Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak.
McShay hearing Broncos are out on QBs. dark. Next
There is some familiarity with these guys that have been signed to the 90-man roster and the Broncos are filling out their squad with the NFL Draft and undrafted free agents to follow this week.