The Denver Broncos have placed coverage linebacker Mark Barron (hamstring) and defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker (calf) on injured reserve, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.
Barron and Walker will be eligible to return after three weeks.
After placing wide receiver Courtland Sutton (knee) and defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones (knee) on IR earlier this week, the Denver Broncos now have four open spots on the 53-man roster.
One of the open spots will go to quarterback Blake Bortles, who is expected to sign later this week after clearing COVID-19 testing. Another spot will likely go to practice squad outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
With Walker and Jones both on injured reserve, Denver will likely call up a defensive lineman from the practice squad. DeShawn Williams is the most likely candidate to get called up to the active roster.
If he is called up, Williams will join a defensive line rotation that includes Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell, Jurrell Casey and McTelvin Agim. The Broncos usually dress five defensive linemen on game days and they carried six d-linemen on the 53-man roster through the first two weeks of the season.
