The Broncos continue to fill starting spots along their defense. They are bringing back multiyear linebacker starter Josey Jewell, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
Jewell is staying in Denver on a two-year deal. This comes a few weeks after the Broncos were connected to another Jewell contract. Denver had both its long-term starters at linebacker — Jewell and Alexander Johnson — on track for free agency.
Both Jewell and Johnson missed most of last season; the former went down in Week 2 with a torn pectoral muscle. Denver selected Jewell in the 2018 fourth round and continued to use the Iowa product in a prominent role, giving him 30 starts in four seasons on his rookie deal. Jewell, 27, made 113 tackles in 16 starts during the 2020 season.
While Johnson was the slightly higher-regarded linebacker during the duo’s time together in Denver, he is three years older. Jewell also stands to be a relatively low-cost signing, given his recent injury. The Broncos now have Jewell, D.J. Jones and Randy Gregory in the fold on their front seven.
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