Plagued by injuries, Denver Broncos have opted to sign inside linebacker Kenny Young from the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, days after they were thumped by Cleveland Browns running back De’Ernest Johnson.

The Rams (6-1) and Broncos (3-4) also swapped 2024 late-round draft selections, with the Rams (6-1) receiving a sixth-rounder and the Broncos (3-4) receiving a seventh-rounder.

Young is in the final year of his rookie deal, which pays him $2.183 million this season, and his departure means that third-round rookie Ernest Jones of South Carolina, who has only played 45 defensive plays so far, will get more playing time.

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Nonetheless, the Rams are receiving a pittance in exchange for a vital defensive player. Young has started all seven games for the Rams, a career-high, and is second on the team with 46 tackles, including a club-best six tackles for loss in his fourth NFL season.

With both starters Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson out for the season due to torn chest muscles, the Broncos have been hit hard at inside linebacker.

The Rams deal is the second in three days for Broncos first-year general manager George Paton, who acquired pass rusher Stephen Weatherly in a trade Saturday with the Minnesota Vikings, his former employer.

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Young, a UCLA product, was acquired by the Rams from the Ravens in October 2019 as part of the transaction that sent Marcus Peters to Baltimore to make room for Jalen Ramsey. With the surprise deal with Denver, Los Angeles general manager Les Snead may be clearing cap room for a bigger move.

Young has 157 total tackles in 53 NFL games, with 16 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 512 sacks, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception.

He was a fourth-round selection of the Ravens in 2018.

With inputs from the Associated Press