“Barron 2.0”? Safety Carter gets practice look at inside linebacker

Attrition at inside linebacker and simple curiosity produced a position change for Broncos safety Jamal Carter during Sunday’s practice.

Carter (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) participated at inside linebacker, equal parts because of injuries to Todd Davis, Josey Jewell and Joe Jones and to see if Carter is physical enough to help.

“Right now, it’s temporary, but if he looks good in there, it will be permanent,” coach Vic Fangio said. “Our numbers have gotten low there, and he’s always wanted to play in there. The timing was good.”

Carter said the coaches told him about the plan over the weekend and his response was “Let’s go.”

“I’ve been wanting to play this (since) high school and college,” he said. “I like being in the trenches. I’m a physical specimen, so I don’t like being too far away from contact. It’s going to fit me.”

Carter played all 16 games for the Broncos in 2017 (eight tackles) and missed last year following a preseason hamstring injury.

If Carter shows up well at inside linebacker, he could carve out a niche that wouldn’t exist if he was just a safety.

“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to be Mark Barron 2.0.”

A first-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2012, Barron played safety before he was traded to the Rams, who converted him to linebacker. He signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh this offseason.

Here is an updated list of the Broncos’ many injuries:

New injuries: Cornerback Horace Richardson (hamstring), safety Kareem Jackson (hamstring), fullback Andy Janovich (pectoral) and running back Theo Riddick (shoulder). Janovich and Riddick are out 6-8 weeks, which stretches into the regular season.

Remain out: Jones (triceps), Davis (calf ) and Jewell (oblique).

Of Davis (out since the first practice), Fangio said, “I think we’ll start seeing him out here fairly soon, but it will be a slow process.”

Jewell was in full pads and did side-field conditioning and said he “felt pretty good.” Aaron Wallace (hamstring), cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) and tight ends Jake Butt (ACL), Jeff Heuerman (shoulder) and Bug Howard (ankle).

Butt was in pads for the first time since July 20 and said, “It’s obviously better to be on the field than in the training room.” The Broncos hosted the family of Army Sgt. Maj. Ryan Sartor, 40, who was killed last month by enemy fire during a combat operation in Afghanistan.

Sartor, a native of Texas, was last assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Carson. He experienced several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan after joining the Army in 2001.

Sartor’s wife and children along with other relatives attended practice and spent time afterward with Fangio and several players, including most of the offensive line group, defensive end Derek Wolfe, quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Drew Lock and outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Penalty The Broncos were called for 11 enforced penalties against Seattle.

After watching the video, Fangio was asked if the issues were bad technique, poor play or letter-of-the-rulebook officiating.

“I think it was all of the above,” he said. “I’ve seen a few of these other games on reruns. There are flags all over the place. I do think the players need to play better from a technique standpoint, and they are being extra judicious in their officiating.”

During the first full week of preseason games, 15 teams had double-digit enforced penalties, including 18 by San Francisco to lead the NFL.

Broncos outside linebacker Jeff Holland’s tumble down the depth chart was completed Sunday when he was waived.

The Broncos traded for Dekoda Watson, drafted Justin Hollins and signed rookie free agent Malik Reed, and all outperformed Holland in training camp.

Signed to take Holland’s roster spot was cornerback Rashard Causey, a rookie from Central Florida who played for Atlanta against the Broncos in the Aug. 1 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

likes schedule. Count Fangio in the camp of wanting to stick with four preseason and 16 regular-season games.

“If you’re into developing players, preseason games are important,”hesaid.

As for the regular season remaining the same, Fangio said: “I don’t think the schedule should move anywhere. I don’t think (18 games) will happen, but what do I know? I don’t think it would be a wise move.”

Fangio does consider joint practices a wise move for both teams. San Francisco visits the Broncos for workouts on Friday and Saturday before next Monday’s game.

“It’s just great to go against somebody else, offensive linemen having to block different pass rushers and run-block different defensive linemen, cornerbacks covering different receivers, receivers going against different corners, (facing) different schemes,” Fangio said. “I would do two of them in camp if I could.” Footnotes. A rare trick play was run during the second play of 11on-11. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders received Flacco’s handoff and rolled right before throwing downfield. But safety Will Parks broke up the pass before it could be caught by receiver Courtland Sutton. … Callahan and cornerbacks De’Vante Bausby, Linden Stephens and Alijah Holder had interceptions during practice.