Titans steal a potentially key depth piece off Broncos practice squad
The Tennessee Titans brought back a familiar face, poaching veteran inside linebacker Avery Williamson off the Denver Broncos practice squad.
The Tennessee Titans needed some depth at the inside linebacker position, so they turned to a familiar face.
The Titans brought in 2014 fifth-round pick Avery Williamson, a player who spent his first four seasons in the NFL with Tennessee, back onto the active roster for the first time since he signed a big-money free agent contract with the Jets in 2018.
Williamson had just recently signed on with the Denver Broncos as a member of their practice squad. When the Titans expressed interest in signing Williamson to their active roster, the Broncos obliged Williamson’s request to be released.
Titans steal Avery Williamson from the Broncos
LB Avery Williamson leaving Broncos to sign with Titans, where he will go on active 53-man roster per league source. The veteran Williamson only with the Broncos a week. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) October 12, 2021
From the Denver Broncos’ perspective, losing a player like Williamson is a bit of a shame.
The Broncos lost Josey Jewell early in the season to a pectoral injury that he suffered on special teams, and they have been trying to fill Jewell’s role with 2020 fifth-round pick Justin Strnad.
Strnad has done a pretty decent job, but has struggled a bit against the run which is obviously an area where Williamson excels.
Since coming into the NFL in 2014, Williamson has over 600 tackles and 29 tackles for loss. He’s obviously been a tremendous two-down player and the Broncos had been transitioning more to using the nickel and dime package, where Strnad could have still been a factor.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, the Titans made Williamson an offer he couldn’t refuse.
The Titans rank 26th in yards per attempt (4.5) allowed to opponents. With David Long, Rashaan Evans, and Jayon Brown (when he’s healthy), perhaps Williamson saw a clearer path to playing time in Tennessee.
Maybe he just wanted to be back where it all started more than anything.
Whatever the case may be, the Titans have removed a potentially key depth piece from the Denver Broncos’ rotation and the Broncos are back to the drawing board if they wanted to ultimately reduce Justin Strnad’s role.