Denver Broncos

Broncos place Shane Ray on IR, bring back Kyle Peko

Published Sep. 7, 2017 6:30 p.m. ET

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos placed outside linebacker Shane Ray on injured reserve Sunday and signed nose tackle Kyle Peko, who was among their roster cuts a day earlier.

Ray is expected back for the Broncos' game against Kansas City on Oct. 30.

He underwent surger y in late July after tearing a ligament in his left wrist at the beginning of training camp.

Peko is a second-year pro from Oregon State who was on Denver's practice squad last season and played in one game. He's the cousin of new Broncos nose tackle Domata Peko, who came over from Cincinnati in free agency this year.

Ray's injury came just as he was set to replace retired pass rusher DeMarcus Ware opposite star Von Miller.

The Broncos initially hoped to get Ray, their first-round pick in 2015, back in action by Week 3. But general manager John Elway said the new timetable wasn't indicative of any setback.

''It kind of falls good for us and here is why we decided to go that way: He has to be on IR for eight weeks. Our bye week (Oct. 8) counts, and then our (seventh) game is on a Monday night,'' Elway said. ''With that being on a Monday night, the eighth Sunday counts as a game. ... He's only going to miss six games.''

The Broncos also re-signed nine players to their practice squad Sunday: C Dillon Day, WR Hunter Sharp, TE Austin Traylor and T Elijah Wilkinson on offense and LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams, DT Tyrique Jarrett, LB Deiontrez Mount, CB Marcus Rios, DB Dymonte Thomas on defense.

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