Sources: Los Angeles Rams trading LB Kenny Young to Denver Broncos
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- With a still-growing list of injuries at linebacker, the Denver Broncos acquired linebacker Kenny Young Monday in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, according to sources.
The Broncos sent the Rams a 2024 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for Young and a 2024 seventh-round pick, the sources said. Young is the second linebacker the Broncos have acquired in the last three days to go with Saturday's trade with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire Stephen Weatherly.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Friday, the day after the Broncos' 17-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland that saw three linebackers ( Von Miller, Micah Kiser and Curtis Robinson) injured in the game, that general manager George Paton was "looking'' at all options to bring in some help at the position.
The 6-foot-1, 234-pound Young, in his fourth NFL season, had started all seven of the Rams' games this season and had played at least 40% of the snaps in six of them. He had a sack to go with seven tackles in Los Angeles' victory Sunday over the Detroit Lions.
The Rams had acquired Young and a fifth-round pick in a 2019 trade that sent cornerback Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens. A reserve in 2019 and most of 2020, Young earned a starting spot in training camp this season.
Along with Young, the Rams have used undrafted free agent Troy Reeder to play a bulk of the snaps off the bench. They also have Travin Howard and rookie Ernest Jones on the roster, but neither Howard nor Jones have been significant contributors on defense.
For the Broncos, Weatherly and Young figure to be inserted into lineup fairly quickly.
The Broncos currently have seven linebackers on injured reserve, including three starters in Bradley Chubb (ankle), Josey Jewell (chest) and Alexander Johnson (chest). Kiser (groin) went to injured reserve Saturday to become the seventh player at the position and 16th player overall on injured reserve.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (ankle), who was injured in the regular-season opener, is expected to be moved off injured reserve to the roster this week.
Miller (ankle) and Robinson (wrist, thumb) also suffered injuries in the loss in Cleveland that could limit them some in practice in the coming days and linebacker Aaron Patrick (ankle) did not practice last week and missed the Browns game.
Robinson, who was on the Broncos' practice squad before Thursday's game, was already playing because Kiser, who had replaced the injured Alexander Johnson, was injured in the first quarter against the Browns.
The Browns overwhelmed the Broncos' front seven on defense with 182 yards rushing, including 52 yards rushing on Cleveland's final possession to run out the final 5:12 of the game when the Broncos needed a defensive stop to get ball back to their offense in what was a three-point loss.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and Lindsey Thiry contributed to this report.
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