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Broncos' rookie minicamp to feature Nix, Matocha, veteran Summers

More than 50 players will participate this weekend at Broncos practice facility.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Broncos’ rookie minicamp this weekend won’t be  just for rookies.

Among the players joining the Broncos’ rookie minicamp this weekend is NFL veteran inside linebacker Ty Summers, who will be designated as a pro tryout player.

Summers has played in 71 games, counting the postseason, the past five seasons with Green Bay, Jacksonville and New Orleans – 14.2 games per year – since he was a 7th-round draft choice out of TCU by the Packers in 2019.

Summers, 28, has mostly been a special teams linebacker but the fact he can scoot his 6-foot-1, 241-pound frame is why he has stuck around.

The Broncos signed veteran free agent Cody Barton to a one-year contract this offseason, but there will be a competition for the starting inside linebacker position next to Alex Singleton.

Denver did not draft an inside linebacker two weeks ago as the team hoped. They did sign Alec Mock of Air Force and Fresno State’s Levelle Bailey as undrafted free-agent rookies.

Credit: AP Images

The Broncos are expected to bring in at least 50 players for the rookie minicamp this weekend. The minicamp will consist of the team’s seven drafted players led by quarterback Bo Nix; 14 undrafted free-agent players, led by Memphis running back Blake Watson and Wyoming offensive tackle Frank Crum); two players on pro tryouts, Summers and fullback Matthew Jester; more than 20 players who received college tryout invites including Colorado School of Mines’ record-setting quarterback John Matocha; and a few returning Broncos players who spent most of last season on the practice squad like running back Tyler Badie.

Nix was the Broncos’ first-round draft choice, No. 12 overall, out of Oregon two weeks ago. The rookie minicamp will be the first time he takes snaps from center and runs an offense for his professional team.

Other draft picks to watch are fourth-round receiver Troy Franklin and fifth-round running back Audric Estime. Third-round outside linebacker Jonah Elliss isn’t quite six months out from shoulder surgery and may be limited to an observer role.

Players from local colleges who will be participating as tryout invitees include Matocha, Air Force safety Jayden Goodwin, and Colorado State’s Tony Pierce, an outside linebacker, and guard Oliver Jervis. Oregon State defensive end Joe Golden is from Colorado Springs' Doherty High School.

Matocha finished his fabulous career at Division II Mines as the all-time, all-division college record holder in touchdown passes (162, breaking the old mark of 159 set by Shepherd’s Tyson Bagent) and touchdowns produced with 191 (162 passing, 28 rushing, 1 receiving, breaking the mark Houston’s Case Keenum set with 178).

If the 5-foot-11 Matocha isn’t signed by the Broncos or any other NFL team, he could have an opportunity to join the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadien Football League. One of Matocha’s former Mines’ teammates, cornerback Mason Pierce, is getting ready to play his second season for Toronto.

Credit: AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe
Colorado School of Mines quarterback John Matocha in NCAA Division II college football championship against Ferris State on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

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