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Published on 11/20/2008 at Thu Nov 20 13:12.
Tagged: ,,.



Nate Jackson to IR – Mustard Signed

Posted Thu Nov 20th by

Credit: AP Photo by Dave Einsel Adding injury to insult, Nate Jackson was placed on IR today after suffering a right hamstring injury yesterday in practice. Jackson has been a vital backup TE this season as starter Tony Scheffler has been ready to go less then half the games this year. In fact, last game Jackson had two great catches for 32 yards in drives that ended up scoring 10 critical points in the second half.

I am personally a fan of Nate Jackson, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Jackson has been plagued with injuries during his career here in Denver. Starting with this visit overseas in the now-defunct NFL Europe where he missed time injured and including games off for injury in each of his years as a Bronco.

Although he’s one of Mike Shanahan’s favorites, I just don’t know how many more injury effected seasons he can make it through without losing his roster spot to someone with a better streak of luck.

To replace Jackson, the Broncos have signed TE Chad Mustard. Mustard’s name is nothing new to this blog as Chad has been dropped and signed more times than any other player in the history of the team (And, no, I didn’t actually check that fact).

While Mustard is a decent blocker, he doesn’t have the hands or speed that Jackson possesses – which makes Tony’s health an even bigger issue. We’re now operating without a TE safety net when it comes to quality receiving options. Tony needs to get and stay health the rest of the year or we’re going to be hurting.

Official Broncos Press Release after the jump.

BRONCOS SIGN TE CHAD MUSTARD;
PLACE TE NATE JACKSON ON INJURED RESERVE

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Thursday signed free-agent tight end Chad Mustard, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club also on Thursday placed tight end Nate Jackson on its reserve/injured list with a right hamstring injury suffered in practice on Wednesday. Jackson, a sixth-year player, appeared in all 10 games (3 starts) for the Broncos this season and caught 11 passes for 84 yards (7.6 avg.) with one touchdown while posting four tackles on special teams.

Mustard (6-foot-6, 277 pounds) is in his fifth NFL season and third year with the Broncos, who waived him on Nov. 4. He saw time in three games (vs. Jac. 10/12, at N.E. 10/20 and vs. Mia. 11/2) for Denver this season after signing with the club on Oct. 6, and he also competed in its 2008 training camp.

In 44 career games (6 starts) with Denver (2006-08) and Cleveland (2002-04), Mustard has totaled 12 receptions for 123 yards (10.3 avg.). He entered the NFL with the Browns as a practice-squad signee in 2002 following a stint with the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League.

Mustard played two seasons of football at the University of North Dakota after competing on its basketball team for two years. He finished his collegiate basketball career ranked eighth all-time in UND annals with 1,568 points scored.

Born on Oct. 8, 1977, Mustard attended Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus, Neb.

  • GreasyQtip

    You said Jackson has been plagued with injuries here in Denver… I’d like to point out that even Greg Oden thinks Tony Scheffler is Injury Prone. We need to start accepting the fact the Danny Graham is our number 1 TE and he is our best tight end. The other constantly have to get “back in football shape” every couple of weeks. But I loooooooooooove our depth this year not only at TE but everywhere.

  • AKscott

    “..even Greg Oden thinks Tony Scheffler is Injury Prone”

    lmao.. great stuff

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I agree that Tony is more injury prone than Nate — but I would also say that Tony gives us a better down-field threat than Nate.

    I also agree that D-Graham is awesome. He has GREAT blocking skills and pretty good hands. HOWEVER, he’s not going to ever be descriped as a ‘deep threat.’

    I think we need that dimension as well.

  • kerry

    hmm. we lost Nate Jackson for the year. not much of a loss. this is really news worthy??

  • http://BroncoTalk.net East

    Kerry don’t. This is your team don’t diss your players when they get hurt.

    Chad Mustard was making 140 dollars a day as substitute and now he’s making 36,500 a week as a 3rd string TE (technically 4th). He will make more in a week than he would have made all year. What a great education system we have in this world.

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    I am a known critic of Graham and I think that he is not as good as Scheffler because he first has that interesting little tendency of I dunno… Dropping passes. Also he will sometimes let blocks up that most Tight Ends could keep. He is decent though and I have a lot of respect for him.

  • Erika_S

    Seriously, that's how much he made as a sub? Wow…I outta appreciate him as my teacher more. Teaches full time, now, BTW.