Wattenberg heads series of Broncos roster moves

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The last time Luke Wattenberg started against the Kansas City Chiefs, it didn’t go so well.

It was December 2022 and the rookie Wattenberg was making his first NFL start. Chiefs’ All Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones had his way with the kid, to the point Wattenberg didn’t start again until the beginning of this season.

Wattenberg will get a rematch of sorts this Sunday (11 a.m. kickoff) at Arrowhead Stadium as the Broncos meet Jones and the Chiefs in an AFC West division matchup.

The Broncos pulled off a pretty slick roster trick Saturday by moving three players into position to play against the Chiefs without having to cut a player. Wattenberg headlined the moves as he was activated from his four-week stint on injured reserve (IR) because of a high-ankle sprain.

Given the activation, Wattenberg is expected to start, as he did through the first five games this season. Alex Forsyth filled in for the injured Wattenberg the previous four games. Wattenberg took the 53-man roster spot vacated by the trading away of outside linebacker Baron Browning on Tuesday.

The Broncos also elevated fullback Michael Burton and veteran inside linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad. Burton’s call-up was expected, although the Broncos will have to put him on the 53-man roster to use him again starting next week. Burton has used up his maximum three elevations.

Cunningham was elevated in part because another veteran inside linebacker, Kwon Alexander, had used up his three elevations the previous three weeks. Using Alexander again would have meant promoting him to the 53-man roster which in turn would have meant cutting a player. And the Broncos didn’t want to risk potentially losing a player through a waiver wire claim.

Not that Cunningham has to apologize. A second-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt in 2017 by the Houston Texans, Cunningham led the NFL with 106 solo tackles and 164 combined tackles in 2020. Alexander started two of the three games he played on practice squad-elevation so Cunningham may also, alongside Cody Barton. Justin Strnad will split time with Cunningham.

Cunningham and Alexander were both signed within a day or two of tackles-leader Alex Singleton suffering a season-ending ACL injury in game 3 at Tampa.