Webster competing to be starting Broncos LB

ENGLEWOOD • Nate Webster is prepared to battle to get a starting job for the second straight year.

Webster, who started 13 games for the Denver Broncos last year at outside linebacker, is practicing primarily at middle linebacker during this week's minicamp and in Thursday's practice he took the snaps with the starting defense. Niko Koutouvides signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Broncos this offseason and seems to be the favorite to start at middle linebacker. Koutouvides worked with the second team Thursday.

Minicamp practices hadn't been open to the media before this week, and Koutouvides took first-team repetitions earlier this week. Webster said he and Koutouvides have been rotating in the middle. Webster said nothing has been promised to either player.

"It's competition," Webster said. "I guess we'll be evaluated throughout the camps, practices and preseason. Nothing has been handed to him or me. We're going to compete, which I don't mind doing."

Webster said he is comfortable being back at middle linebacker. He has played most of his career there, although he can play all three positions.

"That's almost like being back home," Webster said. "Middle linebacker is home for me. I can play the other ones, but I'm more instinctive in the middle."

(gazette.com)