Calvin

Anderson

This does not give us much to go on. We’ll take solace in the fact that Porter is considered day-to-day, rather than something worse, but hopefully the team provides clarity as to what it is he’s dealing with. Backup CB Cory Trice sustained a hamstring injury and OL Calvin Anderson suffered a lower-body injury at tonight’s practice.

Anderson joined the Steelers on a one-year contract last offseason but only appeared in four regular season games due to an injury. The former UDFA has appeared in 50 games over his career, making 14 starts while playing primarily at left tackle. Anderson did not start for the Steelers in his four appearances last season and will likely serve as depth along the line on his new deal.

Anderson’s signing comes days after rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu suffered a dislocated kneecap in practice, ending his season. Anderson is a four-year veteran of the league who has started in 14 of the 46 games he’s appeared in. He played in five games with the Patriots last season but didn’t play another snap after Week 6. He’s likely more of a depth signing at this time as the Steelers look to re-work their line with Fautanu now out for the season.

With RT Riley Reiff sidelined, Anderson started the first two games for the Patriots but hasn’t played since. Going on IR means Anderson will miss the next four weeks before he’s eligible to return.

Anderson played a career-high 439 snaps last season as he played out a one-year contract that kept him out of restricted free agency. He carried the load for the Broncos after Garret Bolles was lost to a broken leg at left tackle and did fairly well for himself, posting a 66.1 PFF pass block grade. The Patriots had an obvious hole at tackle with Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon heading to free agency and it seems likely that Anderson will be at least part of the solution there -- perhaps the solution if the money is higher than we’d expect.

Mike Klis reports the deal is “about $1.5 million” in guarantees. Anderson had been ticketed for restricted free agency. As of this signing he’s the clear right tackle option for the Broncos with Cameron Fleming and Bobby Massie set for free agency, but expect that to change and for Anderson to be more of a swing tackle in 2022.

Thrust into the lineup since LT Garett Bolles was placed on the COVID list, Anderson injured his knee in Week 12 and is expected to miss 3-5 weeks. Both RT Bobby Massie and Bolles are expected back for Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs.

Anderson opened the season as a backup for Denver but injuries to both starting tackles pushed him into a starting role. He suffered the knee injury in his third start of the season last week. Denver could be getting Garett Bolles back from the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, alleviating the loss of Anderson.

The team’s decision to waive 24-year-old Ryan Pope the same day Anderson signed his tender is a telling sign the latter will compete at RT in place of Ja’Wuan James (‘Achilles) from day one. He appeared in all 16 games for the Broncos last year, registering 132 snaps (12%) as a reserve swing tackle on offense and 67 (14%) on special teams.

An UDFA out of Texas, Anderson was invited to the Combine but tested as a borderline NFLer. His stay on the Broncos’ 53-man roster figures to be short.