The Denver Broncos are in serious need of pass rush help and they made an attempt for a former All-Pro, but things didn’t go quite as planned.
Earlier this morning NFL Insider Adam Schefter of ESPN joined 104.3 The Fan’s morning show in Denver with Mark Schlereth and Mike Evans, mentioning that he doesn’t think pass rusher Clay Matthews will be playing for this year for the Broncos. Schefter said on air, “we can cross that name off the list for the time being.”
Schefter later reported that Matthews wasn’t willing to play right now for what the Broncos had offered him. Matthews is still open to the idea of playing in 2020, but only if the right opportunity presented itself.
Matthews would have been a solid replacement for Von Miller, who suffered a dislocated peroneal tendon in his ankle that will require surgery. The injury will more than likely keep Miller out of the 2020 season and possibly end his tenure with the Broncos.
Matthews, a six-time Pro Bowler, finished 2019 with eight sacks for the Los Angeles Rams in just 13 games. Miller had eight sacks all of last season in 15 games.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Matthews was owed a $2 million bonus from the Rams before he was cut this offseason. That bonus will be offset if he signs elsewhere. Knowing that, it doesn’t make much sense for him to take an offer that doesn’t guarantee him more than $2 million this season.
To make matters worse for the Broncos, they may also need to find a replacement for Bradley Chubb in their Monday night season opener against the Tennessee Titans.
Schefter was also asked on 104.3 The Fan what the Broncos’ plans were for Chubb on Monday night and he replied, “they don’t know their plans because they don’t know if he’s going to play.”
With this latest development, one thing is now abundantly clear: Denver needs to find an additional pass rusher — quickly — before Monday night.
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