Broncos rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine is walking into another big spot Thursday night as he makes the active game-day roster for the third straight time.
Abrams-Draine made his NFL debut in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns, and he held his own during high-leverage snaps late in the game after the Broncos benched struggling veteran Levi Wallace, who is inactive for the second straight game Thursday. Abrams-Draine made his first start last week against the Colts and had a key pass break-up in the second half.
“He showed some moxie, stayed with his guys, didn’t panic when the ball was in the air,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of the rookie corner’s performance.
Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis will continue to fill in for injured starter Riley Moss, who will miss his third straight game with a knee injury. It’s a big spot for a couple of young players in Denver’s secondary, against a Chargers offense that has taken to the air more frequently since losing running back JK Dobbins to injury three weeks ago.
The rest of the Broncos’ inactives on Thursday are RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad), DL Matt Henningsen, OL Frank Crum, LB Levelle Bailey, and QB Zach Wilson, who will dress as the team’s emergency third quarterback.
