With Jerry Rice retired and Matt Mauck on his way to the Tennessee Titans, the Broncos have two holes to fill.
The Broncos likely will finalize their practice squad today and may wait until later in the week to fill the 53rd and final spot on the active roster. The roster spot opened Monday when Rice confirmed what the Broncos expected all weekend, that he would retire from the NFL, ending a 20-year career.
The Broncos had hoped to plug their practice-squad opening with Mauck, a quarterback who was on the squad last year. However, Mauck opted Monday to sign with the Titans to be on their practice squad.
Mauck’s agent, Mark Rodgers, said the former LSU star, a seventh-round pick of the Broncos in 2004, chose Tennessee over the Broncos because he thinks there’s a good chance the Titans will elevate him to the active roster. Like the Broncos, the Titans have two quarterbacks on their roster. But the Broncos likely will keep only two quarterbacks on their roster unless something unexpected, such as an injury, occurs.
“Matt is looking forward to a fresh start,” Rodgers said. “This wasn’t about changing practice squads. This was about getting on the active roster, and we think that’s just a matter of time in Tennessee.”
The Broncos are expected to sign quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to their practice squad. The former Texas Tech star recently was released by New Orleans. He was on the Saints’ practice squad last year and was a sixth-round pick of New England in 2003. He spent that season on injured reserve.
The Broncos also brought in former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey for a workout Monday. Davey, who likely won’t be signed at this time, doesn’t have eligibility remaining for the practice squad.
In addition to Davey, Denver brought in wide receivers Josh Davis and Reggie Newhouse. They were recent cuts, Davis by Miami and Newhouse by Arizona.
Bailey ready to return
Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey and defensive end Courtney Brown, who missed the entire preseason because of injuries, practiced as the Broncos began preparations for Sunday’s season opener at Miami.
Bailey has been out with a hamstring injury and Brown dislocated his left elbow Aug. 4.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Bailey will play in the opener. Brown will be monitored this week in practice.
“If there are no setbacks, (Brown) has a chance to play (Sunday),” Shanahan said.
If Brown doesn’t play, Ebenezer Ekuban likely will start at right end. Ekuban played with the starters in the preseason.
Bailey could have played in the preseason finale at Arizona, but the starters sat out. This will be Bailey’s 97th consecutive regular-season game.
“I’m 100 percent, I’m playing,” Bailey said. “This will be 97 of hopefully 200 or 300 games.”
Numbers game
The Broncos head to Miami 0-6 there and are 2-9 in Florida. The Broncos play in Jacksonville on Oct. 2. While the Broncos have hard times in Florida, they do have some statistics working in their favor. The Broncos have won four straight season openers and are 8-2 in openers under Shanahan.
Call them captains
Denver’s offensive captains for the season will be Jake Plummer and Rod Smith, and the defensive captains are Al Wilson and John Lynch. The special- teams captains will change weekly in the first half of the season, with Keith Burns first up.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
