The Broncos will be without starting fullback Andy Janovich for 6-8 weeks as he recovers from a pectoral injury. Janovich has been a fan favorite in Denver since the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Nebraska.
“It’s a very selfless position he plays,” running back Royce Freeman said of Janovich after the team’s second preseason game. “He might not get the ball a lot, but to go out there and be able to stick his nose in the stickiest of situations says a lot about him.”
With Janovich sidelined, the Broncos will turn to another selfless player who is willing to stick his nose in sticky situations. The next man up is George Aston, an undrafted rookie out of Pittsburgh. A 6-0, 240-pound bruiser, Aston received All-ACC honorable mention honors in 2018 after helping the Panthers average 227.9 rushing yards per game.
Denver offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will likely use a fullback both as a blocker and as a receiver out of the backfield in 2019. Aston appears to be tailor-made for that kind of role.
In three seasons at Pitt, Aston caught 45 passes for 277 yards and eight touchdowns. In limited action against the Seahawks on Thursday, Aston caught one pass for seven yards.
If he makes the 53-man roster and begins the year as the Broncos’ fullback, Aston might emerge as a valuable weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. If that happens, Denver will have a tough decision to make when Janovich returns to full health. There’s probably not room for two fullbacks on the roster.
