Broncos make numerous moves as they finalize roster and practice squad

DENVER — On Sunday, one day after John Elway set the Broncos’ initial roster, he gave it a major revamp.

And that’s exactly what he had planned to do. On Saturday, after sumbitting the team’s initital 52-man roster, Elway promised the team would look heavily at the waiver wire to continue to build his roster.

The waiver wire was fruitful for Elway and Co. Sunday moring. The team was awarded four players off waivers, BSN Denver confirmed.

Quarterback Brandon Allen, center Corey Levin, tight end Andrew Beck and wide receiver Diontae Spencer all became Broncos after being cut one day before by various teams around the league.

With Drew Lock going to the injured reserve, Allen becomes Denver’s backup quarterback entering the regular season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback was a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2016 by the Jaguars. He spent the past two seasons with the Rams, on both their active roster and their practice squad. He was released on Friday and has not played a single snap in the NFL.

While listed as a tight end, Beck also played fullback with the Patriots. At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, he is expected to help fill the void at fullback until Andy Janovich returns early in the season from a partially torn pec.

Levin, a sixth-round pick in 2017 out of Chattanooga, will provide Denver will depth on the interior of the offensive line. He spent his first two seasons in the league with the Titans. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound center played in all 16 games for Tennessee last year with one start.

Listed as a receiver, Spencer’s primary role will be as the Broncos’ returner. Out of McNeese State in 2014, the speedster has had two stints with NFL teams during various offseasons, most recently with the Steelers.

While not on those short stints, Spencer spent time in the CFL from 2015-18. Last year, with the Ottawa Redblacks, he had 849 punt returns yards for an average of 10.4 yards per return. He was dynamic as a receiver, too, pulling in 81 receptions for 1,007 yards and seven touchdowns.

To make room for the four new players, the Broncos waived receiver River Cracraft, offenisve lineman Jake Rodgers and inside linebacker Josh Watson. The Broncos hope to at least sign Watson back to the practice squad.

The Broncos weren’t done making moves there.

Denver intends to sign inside backer Corey Nelson if all goes well with his scheduled visit with the team on Monday, according to multiple reports. The Broncos also plan to sign cornerback Davontae Harris.

Harris was a sixth-round pick by the Bengals in 2018 out of Illinois State. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the injured reserve, but ended up playing in three games at the end of the season.

Elway rounded out the 53-man roster by re-signing inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria, BSN Denver learned. The Broncos initially waived the 2018 sixth-round pick on Saturday before re-signing him one day later.

Additionally, the Broncos set their practice squad by re-signing players that spent the offseason with them.

Denver brought back outside backer Ahmad Gooden, running back Khalfani Muhammad, quarterback Brett Rypien, defensive lineman Deyon Sizer, cornerback Alijah Holder, offensive lineman Quinn Bailey, offensive lineman Tyler Jones and receiver Fred Brown.

None of the players the Broncos waived over the past two days were claimed, according to a source.