Broncos add defensive line depth, sign Melton
Aug 22, 2016, 11:03 AM | Updated: 11:04 am
The Denver Broncos have added some much needed depth to its defensive line, signing Monday free agent defensive lineman Henry Melton.
An eighth-year pro, Melton joins the team just a few days after the Broncos placed starting defensive end Vance Walker on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Fellow starting defensive end Derek Wolfe left lumps in throats during practice last week also, tweaking his ankle, but did play in Saturday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Melton has started 36 games in 80 regular season appearances in his first seven years in the NFL. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chicago bears, where he played until 2013 before moving on to Dallas in 2014 and Tampa Bay in 2015.
In his career, Melton’s grabbed 131 tackles, 22.5 sacks and six fumble recoveries. He was named to the 2012 Pro Bowl.
To make room for Melton, the Broncos cut rookie offensive lineman Sam Carlson.
Carlson, who attended Poudre High School in Fort Collins before playing football for Colorado State University, had been brought in by Denver early in training camp after being released by the Tennessee Titans.
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