Broncos promote LB Robinson, sign TE Coats

Alcorn State linebacker Lee Robinson at the 2009 scouting combine (ESPN)

In the wake of placing linebacker Joe Mays and tight end Dan Grankowski on Injured Reserve Monday, the Denver Broncos activated LB Lee Robinson from their practice squad and signed free agent TE Dan Coats.

For Robinson, this represents his first opportunity on an NFL roster after spending the last two years on the practice squads of the Broncos, Cardinals, and Bucs.  Robinson is a blue collar hard-worker who was a BT favorite to make the roster during 2009 training camp and graciously gave us a few minutes of interviews during our coverage that year.  Way to go, Lee.

Coats has played in 53 career games with the Cincinnati Bengals, tallying 30 receptions for 291 yards in that span.

Press release after the jump. 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed linebacker Lee Robinson from their practice squad and acquired free-agent tight end Daniel Coats, it was announced.

Robinson (6-foot-2, 256 pounds) is a first-year player who spent the last eight weeks of the season on Denver’s practice squad after seeing time on the practice squads of Arizona and Tampa Bay in 2009. He was originally signed by the Broncos as a college free agent from Alcorn State University last season.

He totaled 334 tackles (193 solo), 18.5 sacks (112 yds.), three interceptions (66 yds.), 11 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 43 career games played at Alcorn State.

Selected to play in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game following his senior year at Amite County High School in Liberty, Miss., he was born on April 23, 1987.

Coats (6-foot-3, 264 pounds) is a fourth-year player who has played in 53 career games (18 starts) with Cincinnati, totaling 30 receptions for 291 yards (9.7 avg.). He also appeared in one postseason contest with the Bengals. He entered the NFL with Cincinnati as an undrafted college free agent from Brigham Young University in 2007.

He played in 46 of a possible 48 games at BYU and totaled 86 receptions for 966 yards (11.2 avg.) with nine touchdowns.

Named the player of the year in the state of Utah following his junior season at Northridge High School in Layton, Utah, he was born on April 16, 1984.