Broncos LB Justin Hollins has a chance to step up on defense
The Broncos are hopeful that Todd Davis (calf) will return before their season opener against the Titans on Sept. 14 but the team needs to have a backup plan in case Davis isn’t ready to play in Week 1.
One candidate to help replace Davis is second-year linebacker Justin Hollins, who was selected by Denver in the fifth round of last year’s draft out of Oregon. Hollins dressed for 15 games last season, totaling 12 tackles, one sack and two pass breakups.
“We were originally planning on leaving him at outside [linebacker] in this camp with the thought of knowing that he might be able to play inside some particularly in nickel in the back of our mind,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said after practice on Aug. 24. “Now with the injuries that we’ve had at ILB, it has kind of forced our hands to do that a little earlier.
“You never know. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Justin and for us. We’re not putting him in there just because we need somebody in there. He’s a guy that has a chance in there. Sometimes when you’re forced to do something both as a coaching staff or as a player it ends up being a blessing. I’m hoping that’s what happens here.”
Josey Jewell is probably the favorite to start if Davis misses any games but Jewell isn’t an ideal coverage linebacker. Hollins has a chance to win the passing down snaps that were expected to go to Justin Strnad before the rookie suffered a season-ending wrist injury.
In addition to Hollins and Jewell, Joe Jones and Josh Watson are also competing for more playing time while Davis is sidelined.
