After losing starting fullback Andy Janovich for 6-8 weeks to a pectoral injury, the Broncos will give undrafted rookie George Aston a shot to prove he should make the team and begin the year as a starter.
“[I want] to see if he’s worthy of fulfilling that role, and obviously he’ll get some reps here these next few weeks and we’ll have a decision to make once we get down to 53,” coach Vic Fangio said after practice Sunday.
Aston (6-0, 240 pounds) signed with the team as a college free agent out of Pittsburgh following this year’s NFL draft. He’s looked good in limited action at training camp and preseason.
“He’s been a surprise guy coming as an undrafted free agent,” Fangio said. “There aren’t many fullbacks out there these days in college or pro football, so there’s not an abundance of them. I think he’s had a nice catch and run after the catch the other night. He’s got a chance.”
Janovich will likely be sidelined for the first two games of the season so Denver will have a tough decision to make on Aston. Fangio said it’s possible that the team could carry two fullbacks on the initial 53-man roster.
As for Aston, he wasn’t happy to see Janovich go down but he is eager to prove that he is capable of filling in at fullback.
“Injuries are always a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but nothing really changes for me,” Aston said Sunday. “Just go out there and do my job in every play.
“Whatever they say or need me to do, I’m going to do to the best of my ability like I have been up to this point. I wish the best for Andy and he’ll be alright once he gets by this.”
Aston looks up to the task, according to running back Phillip Lindsay.
“He knows what he’s doing and he knows how it is to be a pro,” Lindsay said. “Everybody has to grow up at some point, so I’m excited for him.”
