Broncos Make Flurry of Roster Moves Monday

Chad Jackson (Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos were very busy on Monday. The team added three players to their active roster while shuffling its practice squad considerably.

As previously reported, WR Chad Jackson signed with the club. Tackle Matt Murphy was also signed as Erik Pears was placed on the Reserve/Non-Injured list. Cornerback Josh Bell was promoted from the practice squad.

A familiar face joined the practice squad – center Greg Eslinger, whom the Broncos drafted in 2006 and released in 2007. Eslinger spent some time on the Cleveland Brown‘s active roster in 2007 and finished his season on the practice squad of the Houston Texans.

Finally, the Broncos added CB Rashod Moulton to the practice squad, an undrafted rookie from Fort Valley State University.

No quarterback signing yet… if my math’s right, the Broncos will have to release someone to make room on the roster for the backup QB, expected to be Darrell Hackney. Andre Hall, possibly? Full press release after the jump.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Monday announced several roster transactions, including the additions of free-agent wide receiver Chad Jackson and tackle Matt Murphy to their active roster.

Denver also on Monday signed cornerback Josh Bell to its active roster from its practice squad while adding center Greg Eslinger and cornerback Rashod Moulton to its practice squad.

Jackson (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) is a third-year wide receiver who spent his first two professional seasons with New England, which selected him in the second round (36th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from the University of Florida. He competed in training camp with the Patriots this season but was waived on Aug. 31.

In 14 career games (1 start), Jackson has totaled 13 receptions for 152 yards (11.7 avg.) with three touchdowns along with four rushes for 22 yards (5.5 avg.). He owns five career punt returns for 83 yards (16.6 avg.) and six kickoff returns for 106 yards (17.7 avg.). The wide receiver also has appeared in three career playoff games, returning four kickoffs for 78 yards (19.5 avg.) and adding one special-teams stop.

Jackson was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top receiver) and a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection as a junior at Florida. He attended Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala., and was born on March 6, 1985.

Murphy (6-foot-5, 264 pounds) is a seventh-year tackle who spent the last two seasons with Buffalo after playing for Houston (2003-05) and Detroit (2002). Selected by the Lions in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft from the University of Maryland, Murphy has appeared in 28 career games (3 starts) at both the tackle and tight end positions.

Murphy, who started a career-high two games with the Texans in 2005, was inactive for Buffalo’s 2008 season opener before the club released him on Sept. 13.

A tight end and defensive end at Maryland, Murphy attended New Haven High School in New Haven, Mich., and was born on Feb. 23, 1980.

Bell (5-foot-11, 177 pounds) is a rookie cornerback who spent the last five weeks on Denver’s practice squad after joining the club on Sept. 24. He entered the NFL with the Chargers on May 2 as a college free agent from Baylor University but was waived by San Diego on Aug. 31.

During four seasons at Baylor, Bell totaled 94 career tackles and 12 pass breakups. A first-team all-district selection at Skyline High School in Dallas, Bell was born on Jan. 8, 1985.

Eslinger (6-foot-3, 291 pounds) is a third-year center who begins his second stint with the Broncos, who selected him in the sixth round (198th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from the University of Minnesota.

He signed with Cleveland’s active roster from Denver’s practice squad on Nov. 14, 2007, but was inactive for all four games with the Browns. Eslinger finished that season on Houston’s practice squad and competed in its 2008 training camp before he was waived on Aug. 30.

A consensus All-American who received the Outland Trophy (nation’s best interior lineman) as a senior at Minnesota, Eslinger attended Bismarck High School in Bismarck, N.D., and was born on April 23, 1983.

Moulton (5-foot-11, 184 pounds) is a first-year cornerback who joins the Broncos from Jacksonville, which released him from its practice squad on Sept. 1. He entered the NFL with the Jaguars on May 14, 2007, as a college free agent from Fort Valley State University and spent his entire rookie campaign on the club’s practice squad.

Moulton played defensive back, running back and wide receiver at Fort Valley State, where he also returned kickoffs and punts. He posted five interceptions while averaging 7.9 yards (19-151) on punt returns as a senior.

A three-year starter at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla., Moulton was born on Nov. 6, 1980.