The Broncos started their task of finding a new right tackle Wednesday by scheduling free-agent visits next week for Dennis Kelly and Bobby Massie, according to a source.
Not on the radar just yet is Demar Dotson, who started eight games at right tackle for the Broncos last year. Dotson could be an option as the offseason progresses.
The Broncos entered the right tackle market Tuesday when projected starter Ja’Wuan James sustained an Achilles injury while training and their initial focus appears to be on players who have right tackle experience and not left tackles who would need to play a new position.
Massie turns 32 on Aug. 1 and became a free agent when Chicago declined his contract option. He signed a four-year, $30.8 million deal in 2019.
Massie has 110 career starts at right tackle for Arizona and the Bears. His first three years with Chicago (2016-18) overlapped with Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s final three as defensive coordinator.
Entering 2019, Massie had started at least 14 games in six of his first seven years, but he missed six games in ’19 (high ankle sprain) and eight games last year (knee injury). Neither issue required surgery.
Massie became expendable when the Bears opted to go with Germain Ifedi or former Broncos lineman Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle.
Kelly, 31, signed a three-year, $21 million contract in March 2019. After serving as Jack Conklin’s backup in ’19, Kelly started all 16 games last year after Conklin signed with Cleveland. The Titans drafted Dillon Radunz in last week’s second round.
Kelly played 1,079 snaps, but the Titans released him in March to save $3.42 million on this year’s cap.
Kelly visited Baltimore last month, but the Ravens opted to sign Pittsburgh free agent Alejandro Villanueva to replace Orlando Brown at right tackle.
Kelly started 15 games over three years for Philadelphia and 32 games over five seasons for the Titans.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s management council sent a memo to every team Wednesday titled, “Injuries sustained away from club facilities.”
The memo reiterated that James’ injury, because it was away from the facility, falls under the “non-football injury” category and “clubs have no contractual obligation to provide salary continuation during the year in which the injury was sustained.”
The memo said teams are “encouraged to remind players of the significant injury-related protection provided if they choose to work out at the club facility and the risks they undertake in choosing to train in non-NFL locations.”
Parks, Jones depart. Broncos free agents Will Parks and Joe Jones signed Wednesday with Kansas City and Tampa Bay, respectively.
Parks played for the Broncos from 2016-19 and played six games for Philadelphia and four for the Broncos last year.
Jones bounced from Dallas to the Chargers to Seattle as an undrafted rookie in 2017 before landing with the Broncos and playing 49 games. He played 1,137 special teams snaps.
Six free agents who played last year for the Broncos have joined new teams: Parks, Jones, Wilkinson, outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (Chicago) and running back Phillip Lindsay and defensive end DeMarcus Walker (both Houston).
Briefly. The Broncos’ release of fullback Jeremy Cox hit the transaction wire Wednesday. Cox played 19 offensive snaps and 117 special teams snaps in seven games last year. His departure leaves Andrew Beck as the only fullback-type on the roster. … The NFL will announce its regular-season schedule next Wednesday at 6 p.m. Denver time. … On a local note, Idaho linebacker Christian Elliss signed an undrafted free agent contract with Minnesota. Elliss finished his high school career at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch.
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Broncos Briefs: Search for right tackle begins with Bobby Massie, Dennis Kelly - The Denver Post
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