Denver Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien warms up before the final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on August 29, 2019. After waiving Rypien on Saturday, the Broncos brought him back to the practice squad on Sunday. (Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos continued to work on their 53-man roster on Sunday, claiming four players off waivers and nearly filling out the 10-man practice squad.
The Broncos picked up quarterback Brandon Allen, who played against them while with the Rams in the preseason. Allen, a 2016 sixth-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Arkansas, completed 12-of-19 passes for 162 yards in the Rams 10-6 win over the Broncos on Saturday, August 24.
Allen will be the back-up to Joe Flacco when the Broncos open the regular season at Oakland on Monday, September 9.
The Broncos also picked up wide receiver/returner Diontae Spencer, who spent time in the Canadian Football League, center Corey Levin whom the Titans waived and tight end/fullback Andrew Beck, most recently with the Patriots.
While getting those players, the Broncos waived receiver/returner River Cracraft, along with tackle Jake Rogers and linebacker Josh Watson.
The moves did not stop there. The Broncos also agreed bring in cornerback Davontae Harris, a fifth round pick of the Bengals selected in the 2018 draft.
The Broncos will reportedly bring back linebacker Corey Nelson, who played for them from 2014-2017, according to 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis.
The Broncos also signed eight players to their practice squad: T Quinn Bailey, WR Fred Brown, OLB Ahmad Gooden, CB Alijah Holder, OL Tyler Jones, QB Brett Rypien and DL Deyon Sizer.
BRONCOS ANNOUNCE SEVERAL TRANSACTIONS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The Denver Broncos on Sunday announced several transactions within their active roster and practice squad.
The Broncos claimed four players off waivers: quarterback Brandon Allen(LAR), fullback/tight end Andrew Beck(N.E.), guard/center Corey Levin (Ten.) and wide receiver Diontae Spencer(Pit.). In corresponding transactions, the Broncos waived wide receiver River Cracraft, tackle Jake Rodgers and inside linebacker Josh Watson.
Denver also signed seven players to their practice squad who competed in training camp with the club.
The following transactions were announced by the team on Sunday:
CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS
Player Pos. College Exp.
Brandon Allen QB Arkansas 4
Andrew Beck FB/TE Texas R
Corey Levin G/C Tennessee Chattanooga 3
Diontae Spencer WR McNeese State 1
WAIVED
Player Pos. College Exp.
River Cracraft WR Washington State 2
Jake Rodgers T Eastern Washington 2
Josh Watson ILB Colorado State R
SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD
Player Pos. College Exp.
Quinn Bailey T Arizona State R
Fred Brown WR Mississippi State 1
Ahmad Gooden OLB Samford R
Alijah Holder CB Stanford R
Tyler Jones OL North Carolina State R
Brett Rypien QB Boise State R
Deyon Sizer DL CSU-Pueblo R
NEW ADDITIONS:
Allen (6-2, 209 pounds) is a fourth-year player from the University of Arkansas who spent his first three NFL seasons with Jacksonville (2016) and the Los Angeles Rams (2017-18). Selected by the Jaguars in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, he started 38 games for the Razorbacks, completing 583-of-1,016 passes (57.4%) for 7,463 yards with a school-record 64 touchdowns.
He was born on Sept. 5, 1992.
Beck (6-3, 255 pounds) is a rookie from the University of Texas who spent the entire preseason with New England after joining the Patriots as a college free agent on May 2. With the Longhorns, he started 30-of-51 games played and caught 40 passes for 440 yards (11.0 avg.) with four touchdowns.
Beck was born on May 15, 1996.
Levin (6-4, 307 pounds) is a third-year player from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga who played 16 games (1 start) with Tennessee in 2018 after spending his rookie season on the club’s active roster. Selected by the Titans in the sixth round (217th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, he started 51 games during his collegiate career.
A three-time All-American and two-time winner of the Southern Conference’s Jacobs Blocking Award, Levin was born on Aug. 12, 1994.
Spencer (5-8, 170 pounds) is a first-year wide receiver who spent four seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts (2015-16) and the Ottawa Redblacks (2017-18). He entered the NFL as a college free agent with the St. Louis Rams on May 27, 2014, following his collegiate career at McNeese State.
In four preseason games with the Steelers in 2019, Spencer returned seven punts for 103 yards (14.7 avg.) in addition to adding 87 yards of offense (48 rush; 39 rec.) on six touches. He was born on March 19, 1992.