After the Denver Broncos let veteran Bobby Massie walk in free agency, the team said Billy Turner, Tom Compton and Calvin Anderson would compete for the starting right tackle job during the summer.
Turner (knee) and Compton (back) have been sidelined with injuries, though, so Anderson has been the first-team right tackle by default for all of training camp. Once Turner and Compton return, the competition will resume, but Anderson has an opportunity in the meantime to prove he should remain the starter.
“He’s done a really good job,” offensive coordinator Justin Outten said on July 30. “He made some strides in the offseason learning right tackle, and we [have] bounced him back and forth from right and left. I think he’s done a really good job of settling in at that position. It’s a guy we’re going to lean on right now, at this point.”
The Broncos haven’t given a timeline for when Turner or Compton might return, but they certainly won’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener after missing 14 days of practice. Anderson will get the first chance to grab the job and run with it in a live game setting.
“We had a couple plays yesterday that were absolutely phenomenal. A lot of it — Calvin was at the point of attack,” Hackett said after a practice on Aug. 2. “I think that anytime [injuries] happen, it gives somebody an opportunity to get all those reps, like you said. He’s developing and he’s learning and he’s buying in. I really appreciate everything he’s been doing.”
Anderson has started five games in his career, every time as a injury fill-in. Injuries have now thrust him into a starting role once again, and he’ll aim to keep the job this time.
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