Denver Broncos

Report: Longshot nose tackle now a viable Broncos contributor

Published Jul. 28, 2015 2:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

Darius Kilgo was expected to receive the NFL equivalent of a redshirt year.

That's no longer the case. Antonio Smith's status is still in limbo. Derek Wolfe just landed a four-game suspension. And suddenly, the sixth-round rookie finds himself right in the middle of Denver's defensive line rotation.

"All I can do is worry about myself and just put myself in the best position possible to make the team," Kilgo told 9News in Denver. "We're also here to always support those (teammates) and have their back no matter what happens."

Denver should show Kilgo the same support -- he needs it. The Maryland product is still raw despite his large frame and monstrous physical attributes.

He'll get a shot to turn those traits into snaps this fall if he can learn every spot on the line. In new coordinator Wade Phillips' system, Kilgo has to be versatile.

"It's best for me just to learn the whole defensive line," Kilgo said. "The more versatile you can be, the more valuable you are."

For a sixth-round pick, Kilgo is already proving plenty valuable.

(h/t 9News in Denver)