Broncos defensive backs who must step up in the final four games.
The Denver Broncos have been a living example of “next man up” for the entire 2020 season.
Is there a position group that has not been greatly affected by injuries this year?
Throughout the season, they have had to deal with losing cornerbacks AJ Bouye, Bryce Callahan, Essang Bassey at one point or another. Now, they head into the final four games of the season without all three of them.
So who in the world is playing cornerback for the Denver Broncos? That is a great question and hopefully, it will be fun to see all of the different players the Broncos have out there with a completely re-configured cornerback group over the final four games.
Let’s take a look at what defensive backs will now be making an impact with the top three corners down for the year either due to injury (Bryce Callahan, Essang Bassey) or suspension (Bouye).
De’Vante Bausby
How huge was the sequence of events that led to the Denver Broncos being able to get De’Vante Bausby back after letting him go to waivers in favor of Davontae Harris?
Harris, who specializes on special teams, was kept on the 53-man roster over Bausby, who offers much more at the cornerback position. The Broncos gambled on being able to get Bausby back on the practice squad, but he got a 53-man roster offer from the Arizona Cardinals and spent a brief stint there before getting waived.
The Broncos brought him back on waivers and they have to be thanking their lucky stars they made that call.
Bausby will now play a prominent role over the course of the final four games of the season unless Bryce Callahan is able to return from injury after his mandatory three-game stint on IR.
Bausby has proven himself to be a capable starter on the outside at cornerback in Vic Fangio’s defense, showing excellent instincts jumping shorter routes and quickness to get to the football.
The big question with Bausby is how consistent can he be defending the whole field, not just reading quicker routes and aggressively jumping them.
In 217 snaps with the Broncos between 2019 and 2020, Bausby has allowed just 13 receptions with six pass breakups and zero touchdowns allowed. He obviously has flaws to his game or he wouldn’t be bouncing around from team to team, but Bausby has put some good things on tape in Vic Fangio’s defense.