Exhausted of practice-squad elevations, the Denver Broncos promoted running back Dwayne Washington to the active roster, the team announced Wednesday.
Washington was a 2016 seventh-round pick of the Lions who spent his first two NFL seasons in Detroit before a five-year tenure in New Orleans — four of which came under now-Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
Reunited with Payton in August, Washington (6-1, 223) appeared in the club's last three games after repeatedly being bumped up from the taxi squad. He's failed to earn a touch on offense but, as anticipated, has played 61% of Denver's special-teams snaps.
“His vision was clean and clear in New Orleans. It’s the same here," Payton said of Washington on Aug. 17. "He was a four-core special teams player there. He’s in really good shape. He’s played running back. He’s going to run until the glass breaks. That’s his style. He is someone that we think can come in and compete, and then compete for a role in the kicking game."
Washington will continue to function as a core special-teamer while behind Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Samaje Perine on the RB depth chart.
In additional transactions, the Broncos on Wednesday signed wide receiver Michael Bandy to the practice squad and designated outside linebacker Baron Browning and safety PJ Locke to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list and injured reserve, respectively.
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