Lepsis Placed on Retired List, Other Roster Moves

The Denver Broncos made several roster moves Tuesday, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. Headlining the moves was the transition of veteran Matt Lepsis from the active roster to the team’s Reserve/Retired list.

Lepsis started all 16 games for the Broncos in 2007, one year removed from his season-ending ACL tear in 2006. In 11 years with the Broncos, Lepsis started 133 games at both left and right tackle.

The Broncos also waived WR Carlton Brewster, whom they had signed to their practice squad on October 4, 2007. Lepsis’ and Brewster’s roster spots were filled by two linebackers – Brandon Archer and William Kershaw.

Archer (6-foot-0, 239 pounds) is a second-year linebacker who enters his first season with the Broncos after totaling 10 defensive tackles (8 solo) and four special-teams stops in six regular-season games as a rookie with the Colts in 2007. He entered the NFL with Indianapolis on May 7 as a college free agent from Kansas State University and had stints on the Vikings and Colts’ practice squads before he was signed to Indianapolis’ active roster late in the year.

At Kansas State, Archer was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection (Associated Press) as a senior and finished his career with 268 tackles in 50 games (34 starts). His three career interceptions returned for touchdowns tied a school record.

Archer, who attended Cretin-Derham High School in St. Paul, Minn., was born on Oct. 30, 1983.

Kershaw (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) is a third-year linebacker who enters his first season with the Broncos after seeing time with Philadelphia (practice squad), Houston (active roster) and Kansas City (active roster) in 2007. He entered the NFL with Kansas City on May 12, 2006, as a college free agent from the University of Maryland and spent his rookie year with the Chiefs.

Kershaw has played three regular-season games for his career, appearing in two contests with Kansas City (2006 and ’07) and one game with Houston (2007). He also saw time in the Chiefs’ AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis on Jan. 6, 2007, and led the club with three special-teams tackles against the Colts.

The linebacker played 42 games (20 starts) at Maryland, totaling 204 career tackles (103 solo) and 12.5 tackles for losses. A two-year starter at Hoke County High School in Raeford, N.C., Kershaw was born on Dec. 15, 1983.

The coaches and players are off their respective vacations and Pro Bowls. It’s obvious that the team is getting back to business. The Broncos won’t be limited by a 53-man roster once free agency begins February 29, and then the preparations for the 2008 season really begin.