Linebacker Attaochu to debut vs. old team
First up for new Broncos outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu is facing his old team.
Attaochu was a second-round draft pick by the then-San Diego Chargers in 2014. Now in Los Angeles, the Chargers host the Broncos on Sunday.
“Definitely a little extra incentive,” Attaochu said before practice on Wednesday. “I’ve been waiting on this for a long time.”
Attaochu worked out for the Broncos and signed Tuesday when Bradley Chubb (ACL) was placed on injured reserve. Attaochu was cut by Kansas City on Sept. 1. He had 11 tackles and two sacks in the preseason.
“He was a guy that really played his tail off in that last (preseason) game and it was really hard to argue with the production he had,” Chiefs general manager Brent Veach told reporters after Attaochu’s release.
Attaochu said he spent a couple weeks apiece in Kansas City and Atlanta awaiting his next chance.
“I didn’t take any visits (for workouts),” he said. “I had visits (requested), but I wanted to wait for the right opportunity.”
Since leaving the Chargers, Attaochu spent the 2017 preseason with San Francisco, 2018 with the New York Jets (he had a sack against the Broncos) and this year’s camp with the Chiefs. His first glance at the Broncos’ playbook encouraged him because he will be used as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
“The things I’ll be asked to do as far as rushing and covering, that was my job description for three years in college (at Georgia Tech) and four years in the league,” he said. “It’s good to get back to the position where I started.”
Attaochu, 26, has 12 sacks in 49 career games. Jones nears return. Inside linebacker/special-teams core player Joe Jones hopes to make his season debut Sunday. He suffered a triceps injury in the Aug. 8 preseason game at Seattle and didn’t return to practice until last week.
“I felt I had a good week of practice and hope to have another good week of practice and see where it goes from there,” Jones said. “I don’t have an answer for you (on if he’ll play Sunday) because I don’t have an answer for myself.”
The Broncos waived inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria on Tuesday, which could be a sign the coaches feel Jones is ready. Bierria had played 70 special teams snaps in four games.
After a woeful preseason, the Broncos added reserve players to help the special teams. They rank second in kick returns, 16th in punt returns, 12th on punt coverage and last on kick coverage.
“I think we’re doing a pretty decent job,” Jones said. “The preseason was pretty rough. The last three weeks, we’ve gotten better. When I get back, I hope to do the same things I did last year — go block some punts, make some tackles and help my team win.” Injury report. Inside linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (foot) did not practice. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) went through limited work for the first time since he was injured in Week 1. Safety Kareem Jackson (hamstring), who missed the Jacksonville game, was also limited.
Ex-Broncos in new places this week — defensive lineman Zach Kerr (Arizona), outside linebacker Jeff Holland (Chargers practice squad) and receiver Kelvin McKnight (New England practice squad). … If Jackson can’t play this week, the Broncos are expected to use Duke Dawson as their fifth defensive back. Of Dawson’s play against Jacksonville, coach Vic Fangio said: “Not bad for a guy who just got here a few short weeks ago and learning a new position and a new defense. I thought he did OK out there.”