Short-handed Denver Broncos send draft choice to Minnesota Vikings for Stephen Weatherly
Written by Lucky Wilson | KGTO Writer on October 23, 2021
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With seven linebackers on injured reserve as well as two more linebackers who may be limited in practice next week, the Denver Broncos acquired linebacker Stephen Weatherly Saturday from the Minnesota Vikings.
The Broncos sent a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft to acquire Weatherly and a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft. Weatherly, a 6-foot-5, 262-pound outside linebacker, has played sparingly on defense for the Vikings this season (his 29 snaps in Week 2 against Cardinals was his season high on defense), but has been a special teams regular.
He does give the Broncos more size at the position, something they’ve struggled with, in particular, since Bradley Chubb (ankle) went to injured reserve earlier this season. The Broncos also put linebacker Micah Kiser (groin) on injured reserve Saturday and he became the seventh linebacker the team has put on injured reserve in the last six weeks.
Linebacker Von Miller (ankle) and linebacker Curtis Robinson (thumb, wrist) were also injured against the Cleveland Browns this past Thursday night and could be limited when the team returns to the practice field Tuesday. Robinson, who was on the Broncos’ practice squad before Thursday’s game, was already playing because Kiser, who had replaced the injured Alexander Johnson, was injured in the first quarter against the Browns.
In the end, the Browns over-whelmed the Broncos’ front seven on defense with 182 yards rushing, including 52 yards rushing on Cleveland’s final possession to run out the last 5:12 of the game when the Broncos needed a defensive stop to get ball back to their offense in what was a three-point loss.
Chubb, Kiser, Johnson, Josey Jewell, Aaron Patrick, .Jonas Griffin and Andre Mintze are the team’s linebackers who have gone to injured reserve since the start of the regular season. Chubb, Johnson and Jewell were all starters when the season opened and Chubb was named to his first Pro Bowl last season.
Weatherly was a Vikings’ seventh-round draft pick in 2016 when Broncos general manager George Paton was Minnesota’s assistant general manager.
When Broncos coach Vic Fangio was asked Friday if the team would have to add some help at linebacker before the league’s trade deadline, he said: “George and his staff are looking at that.”
