Broncos Announce Flurry of Roster Moves Ahead of Lions Tilt
The Denver Broncos announced a flurry of roster moves on the doorstep of their Saturday night tilt at the Detroit Lions. The Broncos promoted tight end Lucas Krull to the 53-man roster and signed outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins to the practice squad.
Additionally, the Broncos elevated quarterback Ben DiNucci and defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster to the gameday roster vs. the Lions. It's unclear why the Broncos felt the need to elevate a quarterback, especially with both starter Russell Wilson and backup Jarrett Stidham healthy.
Lancaster, however, is dressing on Saturday night to help bolster the Broncos' worst-ranked rushing defense against Detroit's prolific run game, led by its three-headed running back duo and physical offensive line.
Denver signing Krull to the 53-man roster is curious, and it could be a harbinger of what eventually happens with tight end Greg Dulcich. Dulcich has been on injured reserve for the past eight weeks, and the Broncos started his clock on Wednesday by allowing him to practice.
Following Wednesday's session, the Broncos' practice report listed Dulcich as a full participant and designated his injury as a hamstring — which is the injury that's cost him all but two partial games in 2023. However, following Thursday's session, Dulcich was listed as a did-not-participate (DNP), and next to 'hamstring' was a new injury listing: 'foot.'
So, it could be that the Broncos are facing the reality that this simply isn't Dulcich's year to help the team. He's been too snakebitten, and if he suffered a foot injury on literally his first practice back from being on IR for two months (plus, he was on short-term IR for four weeks in the first quarter of the season), the Broncos are unlikely to try pushing the envelope and risking adding him to the 53-man roster.
Remember, if the Broncos add Dulcich, someone else gets the boot. That was forecasted earlier this week by the Broncos waiving Perkins, though he was re-signed to the practice squad two days later. Instead of that spot going to Dulcich, Krull will take it, and hopefully, he'll run with it.
Krull certainly has the speed. The Broncos had elevated Krull from the practice squad twice prior this season, so doing so again would require the team to sign him to the 53-man roster, or else, following the Lions game, he'd have to be waived and pass through the wire unclaimed before he could be re-signed.
Broncos-Lions kicks off at 6:15 pm MDT at Ford Field. The primetime tilt will be televised on NFL Network. Watch it with FuboTV.
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