Former Denver Broncos right tackle Ryan Harris has re-signed with the Broncos, he is expected to add depth due to the injury to Denver guard Chris Kuper. Kuper suffered a rather gruesome broken ankle in Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Harris was a third round draft pick in 2007 out of Notre Dame by then head coach Mike Shanahan. Originally thought to be the left tackle replacement for Denver great Matt Lepsis, Harris moved to right tackle after Shanahan drafted Ryan Clady in the first round of 2008.
Harris is perhaps best known for only allowing one and a half sacks on former Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler in 2008, as part of that great Clady/Harris tandem. The Fighting Irish grad spent half of 2009 on Denver's injured reserve. In 2011 Harris went to camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was waived/injured on September 3rd, 2011 after undergoing back surgery.
Harris is 6'5" 300 lbs, it is not immediately clear whether he will fill in at guard or play as extra insurance for tackle. Yesterday, following injuries to both Kuper and Russ Hochstein back-up left tackle Chris Clark slid to guard out of necessity.
KUPER TO IR, LARSEN UPDATE:
To make room on the roster Kuper was placed on injured reserve. As of now there is no word on fullback Spencer Larsen who was also injured Sunday. Undrafted rookie Austin Sylvester who is currently on the Denver 53 man roster would likely replace Larsen if he is unable to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
0 recs | 34 comments
question
maybe next year he plays right tackle and move franklin to guard? just a thought
slicka007 - January 2, 2012
This is what I’m thinking as well. If he can stay healthy (a huge if), Harris is a better RT than Franklin. If they put Harris at RT and Franklin at LG next year, the offensive line will have improved at two positions.
EddieRoyalwithCheese - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Franklin is really too tall for a Guard
You don’t want your own players clogging up passing lanes.
KaptainKirk - January 2, 2012
Great call Kap
I forgot about how he is 6’7. No way he plays guard. He has the skills but no way at that height.
ShyandObese - January 2, 2012
I wouldn't say it can't be done
but if you look around the league, 6’3" is about the tallest height for a Guard. It may have something to do with being able to get low quicker off the snap for run blocking as well. A taller guy has farther to go and I think Guards are built more squatter.
KaptainKirk - January 2, 2012
Not with the QB's we have in our roster
If we had Flacco or Ben I would agree. The interior guys need to be around the same height as the QB.
ShyandObese - January 3, 2012
That WAS a gruesome injury
Seemed like the announcers were in the dark somehow, even though it looked pretty clear even in real time that his ankle was jacked up.
Welcome back Harris.
My guess is that he’d be depth for either position. Maybe he’ll even play the 6th man like Clark was doing every now and again. For this week, though, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be anything more than insurance at either position.
Rodney A - January 2, 2012
They totally were in the dark. One of the Broncos after they play put his hands on on his helmet and turned away like, OMG, look at his ankle.
Then they showed a shot of Kuper with his foot going the wrong direction. Simms and crew were oblivious.
artistnyc - January 2, 2012
Yeah, I don't know how the heck they missed it
Like I said, it seemed pretty clear to me and everyone in the room that his ankle was in pretty bad shape. At first I thought they just missed it somehow, but they even kept the camera on him for a few seconds while asking what was wrong and you could clearly see it was a major deal.
Rodney A - January 2, 2012
I'm happy to see him back
hopefully the rest did him good and he will display some excessive energy!
metalman5050 - January 2, 2012
Depth purposes only. He has proven again and again that he can't stay healthy.
He would be a solid backup though
Bustafluff - January 2, 2012
Nice signing...instant depth
broncofaninIL - January 2, 2012
Good deal!
not sure he’ll be able to start, but thought he wasn’t pursuing playing this year as he was going to have some surgery???
Broncs55 - January 2, 2012
His surgery was in September
So, four months must have been enough time to recover. He had a physical last week in Denver and passed.
IanHenson - January 2, 2012
thanks for the info!
sounds great! It intrigues me on if they’ll keep Hochstein in there if he begins to struggle??? That is Tebow’s blind side afterall.
Broncs55 - January 2, 2012
Yes love the signing...
Lose a guy in FA and get him back for nothing but his salary…nice
broncofaninIL - January 2, 2012
it would help to actually read articles before I comment. I have a bad habbit of doing that with front page ones
:/
Broncs55 - January 2, 2012
I'm glad to have him back
In 2010 the Broncos did not win a game in which Ryan Harris did not start.
Not that they won that many games =P
IanHenson - January 2, 2012
Move Franklin
To rt gaurd. Harris is much better in pass protection. He knows the system and would help us beat the steelers.
DanjPike - January 2, 2012
I dont think he knows the read-option, but he his good at pass-pro and run blocking
Clompy - January 2, 2012
I like the signing but wonder where he'll play. He is a decent RT so will we be moving Franklin to Guard next year? Will we even keep Harris next year or is he just insurance for the rest of this year?
BroncoMath101 - January 2, 2012
Excellent news! Good to have him back
We needed some depth on the offensive line
ElwayFanJ - January 2, 2012
Good thing we didnt resign him for a bunch
and got him back on the cheap
Calikula - January 2, 2012
Sweet
I’m thrilled about this! Hopefully he is around for next season, too!
Harris is a clear upgrade over Clark, at the very least.
If everyone knows their assignments, I love Franklin at right guard and Harris at tackle. And then Franklin at left guard next season.
tunesmith - January 2, 2012
Psyched about Harris
I always liked him; smart and can play nasty when necessary. Needs to avoid some of the penalties though and stay healthy. Hopefully his back is much better.
Schwerepunkt - January 2, 2012
Nice move. What's the term? Hopefully more than just the rest of this year
si_ice - January 2, 2012
Everyone
Seems to hate Zane Beadles and wants to resort him to the bench or off the roater but I’m still trying to figure out why. He’s been playing pretty well.
DDoug - January 2, 2012 via Android app
Its because he...
has tiny little T-rex arms. HE is solid, just he has the t-rex arms. =(
garetrose - January 2, 2012
I'd expect Hochstein to stay as Kuper's replacement
Ryan Harris can backup at either tackle position and Chris Clark can backup any position. There is also Tony Hillis.
Harris could merely have been brought in to help the Broncos defensive line prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
IanHenson - January 2, 2012
Nice to have him....
…but I can’t imagine he will be able to help in one week without having played football this year and not knowing the playbook (he may know some of it, but I doubt it is significantly similar to last year with Tebow package now dominating).
bonaire - January 2, 2012
Agree
This was in the works before Kupe got injured. It just cleared a spot for him without having to cut Clark.
Digger24 - January 2, 2012
Awesome!
Always liked Harris!
Brandon Abeyta - January 2, 2012
Always glad to have a former Bronco with class back on the team.
Arctic Bronco - January 2, 2012
Can't lose with this move
Harris being injured screwed his big time free agent payday but he’s a solid Bronco and can be money next year as depth.
Signed through the end of the 2012 season right?
Kosty - January 3, 2012
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