Kevin

Vickerson

Vickerson became expendable following Marcus Thomas’ healthy return to the lineup, and his own Week 5 ankle injury. The 28-year-old’s season ends after four tackles and no sacks. Vickerson is scheduled for a $2 million salary in 2012.

Vickerson’s $400,000 roster bonus was eliminated and his base salary reduced from $2 million to $1.2 million. The 29-year-old is slated for another season as a rotational tackle for coach John Fox’s defense.

Vickerson felt “too light” playing last season at 275 pounds and “couldn’t anchor down at the point of attack.” With Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas lost to free agency, Vickerson and DT Justin Bannan are working with the Broncos’ first-team defense at OTAs. Vickerson, who took a pay cut this offseason, is projected as a rotational tackle behind Derek Wolfe and Ty Warren.

The defensive tackle position in John Fox’s 4-3 scheme doesn’t get the glamour, but it’s a key position. Vickerson, Bannan and Mitch Unrein tied up blockers, thus allowing Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil to wreak havoc. Expect the Broncos to bring back one of their incumbents while also looking to add talent to the position.

Vickerson received the most extensive playing time of his career in 2012, and he responded with 40 tackles and two sacks as a stout run defender in the middle. Denver is paper thin at defensive tackle right now, and re-signing Vickerson is likely a priority. Bruton is a core special-teamer.

Already thin in the interior of their defensive line, the Broncos made bringing back Vickerson a priority. He’s coming off a solid, 40-tackle, two-sack campaign as a starter next to Justin Bannan. Ideally, the Broncos would reduce Vickerson’s 2013 snaps. They’re looking into acquiring Terrance Knighton.

The Broncos think Williams can work his way into a starter’s role by Week 1, but beat writer Mike Klis expects it to be difficult for Williams to leapfrog Kevin Vickerson and Terrance Knighton over the summer. Vickerson proved to be a solid run stopper, while “Pot Roast” Knighton has good pocket-pushing skills. No matter who the “starters” are, all three players will see significant snaps.

Vickerson won’t need surgery to repair the joint he dislocated in Sunday night’s Week 12 loss at New England, but his season is still in jeopardy. It’s a loss the Broncos should be able to overcome. Vickerson has graded out 61st among 70 qualifying nose/defensive tackles according to ProFootballFocus. He has 22 tackles and one sack through 11 games. Terrance Knighton, Malik Jackson, Sylvester Williams, and Mitch Unrein are going to have to pick up the slack.

Vickerson dislocated his hip after starting the first 11 games of this past season. He’s a valuable run-stopping cog in the middle of the Broncos’ defensive line and has one year left on his contract. Vickerson should be back to rotate with Terrance Knighton and Sylvester Williams at defensive tackle.

The Broncos can’t afford to wait on Vickerson in the hopes his dislocated hip will heal in time for the playoffs. Instead, they’ll use Sylvester Williams and Mitch Unrein next to Terrance Knighton and sign a body for defensive tackle depth. Vickerson will head to free agency with 22 tackles and one sack in 11 games. He graded out as ProFootballFocus’ No. 61 nose/defensive tackle among 70 qualifiers.