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Broncos roster: DB Reese Taylor (No. 35) a strong practice squad candidate
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- Broncos roster: DB Reese Taylor (No. 35) a strong practice squad candidate
Broncos Wire 's 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year defensive back Reese Taylor , No. 35.
Before the Broncos :Taylor (5-9, 188 pounds) spent his college football career in the Big Ten Conference. From 2018-21, Taylor played at Indiana , playing in 40 games with the Hoosiers. In 2018, Taylor became a kind of do-it-all player, being used on offense, defense and special teams as a returner. In 2018, Taylor caught 28 passes for 174 yards, rushed 15 times for 83 yards, recorded seven solo tackles and returned three kickoffs for 66 yards.
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In 2019, Taylor continued to return kicks while also earning a bigger role on defense. On defense from 2019-21, Taylor made 67 total tackles (58 solo, nine assisted, eight tackles for loss), 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one forced fumble. As a returner, Taylor returned 14 punts for 114 yards and one kickoff for 21 yards.
In 2022, Taylor transferred to Purdue, using his fifth-year eligibility granted to COVID-impacted athletes. On defense, Taylor made 34 total tackles (27 solo, seven assisted, one tackle for loss), one interception, four pass deflections and one forced fumble. As a returner, Taylor returned two punts for 15 yards. After the 2023 NFL draft, Taylor was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs in May 2023, before being signed to the Denver Broncos ' practice squad in November 2023.
Broncos tenure: Taylor spent the rest of 2023 on the Denver practice squad before returning to the Broncos in 2024. Taylor was activated off the Broncos' practice squad for one game -- Denver's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts -- and he played 13 snaps on special teams before returning to the practice squad.
Chances to make the 53-man roster: Long shot. Taylor's skills as a returner and defender make him an intriguing player, especially for a head coach like Sean Payton, who loves versatile players on his roster. Taylor will likely be competing for a spot on the practice squad this summer.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Reese Taylor a strong practice squad candidate
