The Denver Broncos officially announced their 17th practice squad signing on Thursday: tight end Patrick Murtagh.
The NFL has a practice squad size limit of 16 players, but there’s an exception for an extra international player as part of the NFL’s international player pathway program. Murtagh, an Australian, will be Denver’s exception. Before bringing in Murtagh, the Broncos explored more creative options.
“We’re excited to have him,” coach Sean Payton said of adding Murtagh. “It’s funny. You’re not looking to bend the rules, but you’re looking closely at the rules. We had a few players on our team whose mom is from Brazil or dad’s from… Very quickly, we figured out that can’t work. They have to have attended high school. It’s much stricter.
“So when you look at that international list, we were either offensive line, tight end — and that helps you again in your practices. The exposures with him have been good, been real good. We’re at our quota with Australians.”
Murtagh, who tried out for the team during mandatory minicamp in June, joins rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw as the second Australian on the squad. The 6-6, 250-pound tight end was a national-level decathlete in Australia, and he played Australian rules football before switching over to American football.
Broncos practice squad signingsQB Sam EhlingerWR A.T. PerryWR Michael BandyFB Adam PrenticeTE Caleb LohnerTE Patrick Murtagh (international)OL Calvin ThrockmortonOL Joe MichalskiDL Jordan MillerILB Levelle BaileyILB Jordan TurnerILB Garret WallowCB Reese TaylorCB Quinton NewsomeCB Jaden RobinsonS Delarrin Turner-YellS Keidron Smith
Denver’s practice squad is now set as the team prepares to host the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.
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