Delarrin

Turner-Yell

Turner-Yell began the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and had his 21-day practice window activated 21 days ago. He evidently was unable to make a full return, as Sean Payton told reporters on Wednesday that it “became too much of a challenge to activate” him. Turner-Yell will hopefully return to play next season.

This is welcome news for a Broncos secondary who could be without S P.J. Locke (thumb), who was unable to practice. Turner-Yell returns from a brutal December 31st, 2023 ACL tear. Whether he can play in Week 9 remains to be seen but the unit could be receiving reinforcements soon.

The training staff has yet to determine the injury’s severity but the Broncos are already in a tough spot at safety. The front office released four-time second-team All-Pro S Justin Simmons this offseason and both S Caden Sterns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) are currently on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. P.J. Locke is the only active Broncos safety who logged triple-digit defensive snaps last year, though he worryingly earned a 55.2 PFF coverage grade.

The report comes from NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Broncos also moved S Caden Stearns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) to the active/PUP list. Sanders ruptured his Achilles tendon in late April. Initial reports suggested the team was hopeful he could return before the 2024 season ends. His move to the active/PUP list, rather than the reserve/PUP list, is a positive step in this regard. Should he remain on the active/PUP list entering the regular season, he will be eligible to return against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

Turner has struggled with the knee injury dating back to camp and still isn’t ready to set foot on the field against the 49ers. Cameron Fleming will protect the blindside for Russell Wilson against San Francisco’s pass rush. Also inactive for the Broncos are: WR Jalen Virgil, WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), CB Darius Phillips (hamstring), S Delarrin Turner-Yell, OLB Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), and DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Yell (5”10”/197) finished with 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and was selected to Second Team All-Big 12 in 2021. He ran a 4.47 40 at the Combine, but he lacks ideal size, which gives him a slight disadvantage in certain situations. The fluidity in which he moves is incredible as you watch him close the gap on a run play and shut down for almost no gain. While he excels playing over the top, playing off the line is where he struggles. He plays to his smaller size, and it would be risky to bring him in to cover the Y as he can’t physically handle that assignment. He struggles to tackle and can often get off-balanced, especially when trying to crossover the opposite flanker. Yell can play in certain schemes as long as he doesn’t get any one-on-one assignments.

Turner-Yell (5'11/200) was seen being helped off the field and to Oklahoma’s medical tent while making a tackle in Saturday’s matchup against West Virginia. Turner-Yell dealt with a broken collar bone injury in December of 2019, but it remains to be seen if this injury from Saturday is related to that. On the season, Turner-Yell has 20 tackles, and one interception for the Sooners.

The good news is Turner-Yell (5'10/190) wasn’t immediately ruled out for the spring, as he suffered a broken collarbone in a freak injury during a late-December practice that caused him to miss OU’s playoff game against LSU. The starting safety was an important contributor to the Sooner pass defense, recording 75 total tackles, 5.5 TFL and three PBU in 13 games. Turner-Yell’s speedy recovery bodes well for his summer camp availability and he should be ready to go when the season starts in September.

Turner-Yell (5'10/190) suffered the collarbone injury in practice earlier this month, just before the team’s game against LSU in the semifinal. The timing of the injury is unfortunate not only because he will miss that game, but because it could hold him out of spring ball. It’s possible Turner-Yell makes a speedier recovery than expected, but it sounds like the player himself is gearing up for a return in the summer. Hopefully Turner-Yell can make a fully healthy recovery and come back firing in fall camp.

Turner-Yell (5'10/190) suffered the injury during practice, and as a result the Sooners will be without a key contributor in the secondary for the College Football Playoff semifinal on December 28. The sophomore safety appeared in each of Oklahoma’s 13 games, tallying 75 total tackles (5.5 for loss), one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and three pass breakups. Justin Broiles is expected to start in Turner-Yell’s place, and he’ll have a lot of his plate given how good the LSU offense has been this season.