EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the Denver Broncos finished their offseason work and broke training camp, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said he believed the defense's rookies would help in what had been an extensive makeover on that side of the ball.
First-round pick Bradley Roby is already a regular on defense who Del Rio trusts to match up with some of the best receivers clutch situations thus far. Fifth-round pick Lamin Barrow, who was tossed from Sunday's game for throwing a post-play punch as the third quarter drew to a close, has played some at linebacker in the defense as well as plenty on special teams.
Sunday, it was rookie linebacker Corey Nelson's turn. The seventh-round pick from May's draft had appeared some in the Broncos' overtime loss in Seattle in Week 3. He was forced into a far bigger role Sunday when Danny Trevathan left the game with a left knee injury following the defense's second play from scrimmage.
"They don't get out there unless we like them," said Broncos head coach John Fox. " … [Nelson's] learning, he's a young guy that's worked and kind of earned his stripes in the kicking game."
But Trevathan's exit left the Broncos with some roles to fill in their scheme since Trevathan plays in everything. Brandon Marshall, who went for Trevathan at weak-side linebacker kept his usual spot – usually with Trevathan – in the Broncos' nickel package as well.
But the Broncos then used Nelson as the second linebacker in the nickel. Against the Jets, he ended up playing the nickel enough that Nelson finished the day as the Broncos' leading tackler.
"He got in there and made some plays," said linebacker Von Miller. "That's what we want, no matter who goes in there, they go in and get the job done."
Trevathan will undergo additional tests Monday and while the Broncos were hopeful it wasn't a season-ending injury when they left MetLife Stadium Sunday night, Nelson figures to be in the mix some Sunday when the Broncos face the San Francisco 49ers and perhaps beyond as well.
The Broncos likes Nelson's athleticism when he came into the draft -- he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at Oklahoma's pro day at 231 pounds. He had missed most of his final season with the Sooners with a torn pectoral muscle, but the Broncos saw a player who made plays in both coverage and the pass rush -- with an interception return for a touchdown in 2013 to go with a 4.5-sack season as a sophomore.
Nelson also took to special teams quickly and when the Broncos made the cut to 53 players, both he and Barrow were among the linebackers they kept.
"That's what it takes," Miller said. "We need everybody, if you're in this locker room, we need everybody to be ready, just in case. Be ready to help when it's time to help."
