Players on the roster bubble have to take advantage of every opportunity they get during preseason to have a shot of making the 53-man roster.
Jalen Virgil did just that this summer.
Last week, Virgil became the 18th undrafted rookie to make Denver’s initial roster in the last 19 years, continuing a trend of the Broncos finding UDFA gems. The rookie out of Appalachian State turned heads in preseason, catching nine passes for 180 yards.
That play-making ability — and his electric speed — won Virgil a spot on the 53-man roster.
“He showed throughout the preseason that when the ball was thrown his way, he was going to make an electric catch, and he was going to make a play,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said last week. “In the end, he continually did that. It wasn’t just one game, it was all three games, and he has a lot of speed. It’s always hard to find speed, especially a big strong guy like that.”
Despite his size (6-1, 210 pounds), Virgil ran a 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at his pro day earlier this year. That kind of speed could certainly come in handy for the Broncos on offense, and also as a backup returner.
Virgil’s emergence was one of Denver’s best stories of the summer, and he’ll now aim to continue taking advantage of every opportunity during the season.
Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
