The Broncos put David Bruton on injured reserve
Bruton Jr., Denver’s special-teams captain and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, played a team-high 77 defensive snaps despite breaking his fibula in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh. He finished his 2015 season with a career-best 42 tackles (30 solo), seven passes defensed, two interceptions (11 yds.), two forced fumbles and one sack (3 yds.) to go along with six special-teams stops.
Prater (5-10, 190 pounds) is a fourth-year player who appeared in 21 games (3 starts) with Philadelphia (2013), Minnesota (2013-14, ‘15) and Indianapolis (2015). Selected by Cincinnati in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft from the University of Iowa, he spent his rookie season on the club’s injured reserve list (knee).
During his NFL career, Prater has recorded six tackles (4 solo), four special-teams stops, one interception (30 yds.) and one pass defensed. He has played two games in 2015, seeing game action with Indianapolis (Week 5) and Minnesota (Week 14) after competing with the Vikings in training camp.
In his first stint with Minnesota (2013-14), Prater saw action in 18 contests (3 starts). He made his regular-season NFL debut with Philadelphia in Week 3 of 2013.
A three-year starter at cornerback for the Hawkeyes, Prater opened his final 35 games for the school and was named All-Big Ten Conference as a senior after totaling 51 tackles, four forced fumbles and one interception. Prater finished his collegiate career with seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Prater was named a Lincoln Star Journal all-state selection as a senior at Central (Neb.) High School, posting career totals of 177 tackles, five interceptions, 20 passes defensed, five sacks and six forced fumbles. He was born on Oct. 27, 1989, in Omaha, Neb.
Prater will wear jersey No. 27.
