Broncos sign defensive tackle
Crick placed on IR, ex-Seahawk Rubin takes spot
With starting defensive end Jared Crick facing back surgery, the Broncos on Friday placed him on injured reserve and signed veteran Ahtyba Rubin to a one-year contract
Rubin, a sixth-round pick by the Browns in 2008, spent his first seven NFL seasons in Cleveland and the last two in Seattle, where he started every game. Rubin signed a threeyear deal with the Seahawks in March 2016, but was released earlier this month amid final roster cuts, shortly after Seattle traded for former Jets lineman Sheldon Richardson.
In his nine-year career, Rubin has totaled 413 tackles, 15 sacks, a pair of interceptions, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
“He’s been a 16-game starter for two years in Seattle and they’re known for having a heck of a defensive front,” coach Vance Joseph said. “You watch the guy’s tape, he’s a big man, he plays really hard. As far as the run game, he’s very stout. He’s got some inside pass rush also. So I’m happy to have the guy. A guy who’s played so much football at a high level like that with a great defense, coming in here playing with us shouldn’t be a shock for him because that’s what he played with the last two years.”
Rubin flew in to Colorado on Thursday night, passed his physical Friday morning, then attended the team’s walkthrough. Although Joseph said he’s “unsure” if Rubin will play Sunday against Dallas, he admitted it’s “very possible” since it’s foreseeable Rubin could catch up quickly in the Broncos’ system.
“I’m all in. If they want to me play, I’ll play,” Rubin said. “It’s really up to the coaching staff. It’s a 3-4 scheme so it fits very well with me. I played 3-4 in Cleveland, I’m pretty sure I can come in here and get plugged in and contribute and help win games and help stop runs. That’s what they brought me in here for.
“I’m more than thrilled to come here. Left another winning team for an even better team, so I’m happy.”
Rubin, wearing No. 78, joins a defensive line room that now features starters Domata Peko and Derek Wolfe, and Shelby Harris, Adam Gotsis and Zach Kerr.
Kerr missed the Broncos’ preseason finale and regular-season opener because of a knee bruise, but returned to practice this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Dallas.
Last season, in the wake of a season-ending injury to Vance Walker in training camp, Crick was elevated to a starting role opposite Wolfe on the line. In 16 games (15 starts), he totaled 53 tackles, three sacks and six pass-breakups.
Crick was carted off the Broncos’ practice field midway through camp this year with a back injury that, at the time, was said by Joseph to be a “pretty bad” back spasm. But Crick didn’t play in the remainder of the preseason or the Broncos’ season-opener against the Chargers last Monday.
“He’s battled for about three weeks with this injury and he had a great day Wednesday and was really sore on Thursday,” Joseph said. “After further examinations he needs surgery, so he’ll be on IR.”
Crick met with a doctor Friday to determine the next course of action for the disc injury. Teams are allowed to recall two players on injured reserve after eight weeks, but given the type of injury, he could be lost for the season.
The sixth-year veteran is in the final year of his twoyear contract with the Broncos and is due $1.5 million in base salary and carries a dead-money value of $2.25 million.