Ex-Broncos quarterback letting NFL teams know he can ‘still rip it’

As teams rush headlong into the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, one free agent making waves is former Denver Broncos quarterback Ben DiNucci. With the NFL relying increasingly on backup quarterbacks in Week 9, DiNucci is actively attempting to rejoin a roster as the playoffs heat up. DiNucci gained notoriety when he was hastily signed by Denver after starter Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle during an AFC divisional game.

In a bold move, DiNucci sent a message to the Arizona Cardinals expressing his willingness to contribute, even if they might be dealing with quarterback Gardner Minshew's potential season-ending elbow injury. "Hey @AZCardinals," DiNucci wrote, "I weigh 190 pounds but gosh can I still rip it. Attaching flag football highlights for reference."

He followed up with a similar message to the Minnesota Vikings, who were struggling with Carson Wentz's performance on Monday Night Football and are now seeking a roster upgrade. DiNucci reminded the Vikings of his availability, attaching flag football highlights as proof of his abilities. As of now, the Cardinals have not responded to DiNucci's overtures, but they did sign another former Broncos backup quarterback, Josh Johnson, on Monday.

Johnson, who served as Denver's backup quarterback in 2022, is now playing for his 15th NFL team. The Minnesota Vikings are also rumored to be shopping for a quarterback before the 4:00 p.m. ET trade deadline. One intriguing possibility is that they might contact Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The Denver Broncos are undoubtedly monitoring the situation closely and making crucial calls to other teams to secure a strong playoff run.

Stay tuned for the latest updates and developments leading up to the trade deadline on Broncos Wire.