The Denver Broncos were dealt a tough injury this late in the year when Luke Wattenberg, who recently signed a $48 million extension, got hurt in the Broncos' Week 17 matchup.
With a need for more depth along the offensive line, and specifically at the center spot, the Broncos sourced the free agent market and opposing team's practic esquads.
They found their match. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Broncos are signing a new center off the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad to bolster their depleted center depth.
Broncos poach Chargers' OL in signing to replace injured $48 million starter
"Broncos signed C Sam Mustipher off the Chargers' practice squad," Schefter revealed the day after Christmas.
Acting like the Grinch for the Chargers, not only did the Broncos win on Christmas night to maintain their AFC West lead, but they then stole an offensive lineman from the Chargers.
Mustipher is a 29-year-old offensive lineman who's spent a few years in the NFL. He started his career with the Chicago Bears in 2020, when he started seven games and appeared in nine in his rookie season.
He then started all 17 games in 2021 for the Bears, and then 16 of 17 for the Bears in 2022. Mustipher left to join the Baltimore Ravens, where he appeared in nine games, starting two in 2023 during his fourth NFL season.
More: Broncos playoff picture: How win over Chiefs impacts AFC West race, Denver's chances at No. 1 seed
Finally, he joined the Chargers in 2024, and while he made appearances in 12 games, he started just one and has not returned to the NFL.
Mustipher hasn't played a snap during the 2025 season just yet, and now with the Broncos adding him to their 53-man roster, there is a strong chance he's active for game days as a backup center.
Denver has a new offensive lineman, a 29-year-old five-year NFL veteran, to provide some extra depth to their center spot.
Alex Forsyth will start in Wattenberg's place, while Mustipher will be the Broncos new backup center going forward into the playoffs.
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