Alexander

Johnson

The Broncos have now lost both of their starting interior linebackers to torn pec muscles. Jose Jewell went down with the same injury in Week 2 and is also done for the year. Pro Football Focus had Johnson graded as their top linebacker at stopping the run this year. He ends the year with 32 combined tackles and a pair of TFLs. His loss will make Denver an easier opponent to run the ball against but they still project as an elite defense overall.

This is Johnson signing his second-rounder tender as a restricted free agent. The 29-year-old has been an every-week starter since Vic Fangio arrived on the scene in Dallas, stacking up a few big plays while being an asset against the run.

WR Tim Patrick was also tendered at the second-round level. Both players will make $3.384 million should they not sign elsewhere. 29-year-old Johnson has started 28 games over the last two seasons for coach Vic Fangio’s defense. Johnson graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 22 off-ball linebacker last season, receiving plus marks for his run defense.

The Denver Channel’s Troy Renck expects Patrick to be tendered at the second-round level. That should be enough to hold off teams after Patrick led the Broncos in receiving last season. Denver is also expected to tender offers to RFAs Phillip Lindsay and Alexander Johnson.

“Obviously, people talk about how me and Todd (Davis) can’t cover; we’re going to show them we can,” Johnson said. The Broncos defense massively underperformed through the opening four games of the 2019 season. Vic Fangio then shifted, bringing Johnson and nose tackle Mike Purcell into the line-up. The positive results were obvious. Johnson then went on to play 91 percent of the team’s defensive snaps for the rest of the season, ending in a breakout campaign in his age-28 season. Johnson has just one season left on his contract.