Stokley: ‘Odd’ move for Broncos to sign WR Brown, cut CB Nixon

The Denver Broncos signed one of its training camp castaways back to the 53-man roster Monday, and it wasn’t Ronnie Hillman (though the Minnesota Vikings did release the running back Monday).

The club brought back wide receiver Marlon Brown, who had a short stint with the Broncos in training camp before being designated as “waived/injured” in August.

In exchange, the team waived cornerback Taurean Nixon, who had been on the Denver practice squad until he was brought up to the active roster on Nov. 5. Tight end John Phillips was released to make room for Nixon.

Brown makes seven wide receivers on the active roster, an addition to a position group Brandon Stokley, co-hosts of Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s “C.J. and Stokley,” would be the last to be made.

“Now you have seven receivers on the roster? And for some offensives, OK, that is a lot. But if you use a lot of receivers, OK. With this offense, that is like carrying five quarterbacks almost,” Stokley said.

Stokley, who played with Brown in 2013 with the Baltimore Ravens, also questioned the timing of the move.

“Just to bring him back this late in the season, to me, is kind of odd. No, it’s not kind of; it’s really odd,” Stokley said. “Why would you cut a young cornerback for a position the receiver group that you have a lot of depth?”

Stokley’s co-host, Charles Johnson, also labeled the move as “odd,” especially with Hillman available and the Broncos carrying only three young running backs.

“You have three running backs, but really your top two running backs are first-year performers — one a rookie and one a second-year guy coming off the practice squad,” Johnson said of Devontae Booker and Kapri Bibbs.

Booker has been thrust into the starting role since C.J. Anderson torn his meniscus in the team’s 27-9 win over the Houston Texans in late October and was placed on injured reserve. Bibbs spent his rookie season and a good portion of last season on the practice squad.

Brown comes to the Broncos after spending three years in Baltimore — including one year under then-Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. In his tenure, he appeared in 38 games, with 15 starts, grabbing 87 receptions for 891 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.