Broncos add some intriguing options on the interior offensive line

The Denver Broncos added a couple of intriguing options to the interior offensive line with rookie Harry Crider and third-year pro Javon Patterson.

That sound you hear is Denver Broncos general manager George Paton tinkering with the roster. Although neither player is going on injured reserve, the Broncos could be without both starting guards Dalton Risner and Graham Glasgow this week against the Baltimore Ravens, possibly longer.

That is certainly not what anyone would consider ideal at this point, but both Risner and Glasgow have had their share of ugly moments in the early goings of the 2021 season.

Glasgow, in particular, has had some really bad plays and also had a scary situation with an irregular heartbeat that caused him to miss the team’s week two matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Given these recent injuries to Risner (foot) and Glasgow (knee), the team has made some rather intriguing moves on the interior offensive line, adding a couple of guys to the practice squad.

Denver Broncos make intriguing pickups on interior offensive line

Broncos sign G/C Javon Patterson to practice squad

Prior to the injuries to Risner and Glasgow, the only interior lineman on the team’s practice squad was Austin Schlottmann, another guard/center type who has started some in place of Glasgow in the past.

Aside from Schlottmann, the team didn’t have any reinforcements behind backup guards Quinn Meinerz and Netane Muti.

Javon Patterson is certainly an intriguing name and someone the Denver Broncos are familiar with as he was one of their top-30 visits ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft.

As has been the case for many of George Paton’s roster additions, Patterson graded out as an above-average athlete in the 2019 class, though certainly not “elite” in that category as other additions he’s made have been.

We’ll see if the former Ole Miss Rebel can work his way onto the active roster at some point.

Broncos sign rookie G/C Harry Crider

After getting a shot with the Philadelphia Eagles in training camp, the Denver Broncos picked up free agent rookie Harry Crider, one of the top five athletes at the center position in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

His metrics are nothing crazy, though he’s obviously crazy strong throwing up 31 bench press reps at 225 pounds.

Both Patterson and Crider are slightly undersized for the interior offensive line but they both have upside to develop.

It will be interesting to see what the Broncos do with both of these guys when Risner and Glasgow are healthy. They may not keep both or either of them once that happens.

For the time being, they are going to get a playbook, and from that point on — whether they are on the practice squad or not — they will be able to be on-call for this team and ready at a moment’s notice.

Crider is one of a handful of former Indiana Hoosiers the Broncos have looked at in 2021. They obviously drafted Jamar Johnson, a safety, in the fifth round. They picked up running back Stevie Scott late in training camp and now they have signed Crider.

Denver Broncos steal from the Raiders to replace KJ Hamler

The Denver Broncos lost KJ Hamler to a season-ending ACL injury. To replace him, they stole David Moore from their division rival Las Vegas Raiders.

Maybe other Hoosiers players will be on the radar down the line.