Broncos could have a different kicker on Saturday
The Denver Broncos could be without kicker Brandon McManus in Week 15.
McManus was placed on the team’s Reserve-COVID 19 list on Monday after reporting that he was in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, he will have to self-isolate from the team and be tested daily leading up to Saturday’s game.
If he continues to test negative, he should be able to kick against the Buffalo Bills as part of a special NFL Network double header this Saturday. If he does test positive, the team will have to use a different kicker for the first time since the 2014 season.
That kicker will likely be Taylor Russolino, a player the Broncos recently signed to their practice squad. Russolino is a relatively unknown kicker who drew the eyes of NFL teams this past spring as a kicker in the XFL.
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There, he was the kicker for the St. Louis BattleHawks and he was able to convert on a 58-yard field goal, the longest field goal made in the XFL all season.
McManus is coming off of one of his worst games as a pro. Against the Carolina Panthers, McManus missed two extra points (one of them badly) and he probably wants to atone for such a poor performance.
McManus is certainly planning as though he will play on Saturday and the Broncos likely have that expectation too. But it’s still a good thing they signed Russolino when they did and he’s had a chance to get in some reps during practice.
Perhaps it was this video that caught the Broncos eye?
Russolino certainly has a strong leg and in the thin air of Denver, that could be fun. Of course, McManus is the guy the Broncos want to have out there and if all goes well, they will.