Players

VICKERSON AT A GLANCE:
• A seventh-year defensive tackle who has played 60 career NFL games (32 starts) with Denver (2010-12), Tennessee (2007-09) and Miami (2005-06) in addition to a 10-game stint with NFL Europe in 2007.
• Set career highs in games played (16) and starts (14) in 2012, helping the Denver defense rank third against the run, allowing just 91.1 yards per game.
• Established career highs in games played (15) and starts (12) in his first season with Denver in 2010, finishing second among the club’s defensive linemen with 42 tackles (33 solo), including a career-high two sacks (4 yds.), with one interception (4 yds.) and one forced fumble.
• Posted a personal-best 49 tackles (24 solo) in 13 games (2 starts) for Tennessee in 2009.
• Started 10 games for NFL Europe’s Cologne Centurions in 2007, where he was named a first-team All-NFL Europa selection after posting 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
• Lettered four years at Michigan State University, where he played 44 games (19 starts) and totaled 113 tackles, including 8.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for a loss, in addition to 19 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.
• Joined the Broncos as a free agent on Sept. 7, 2010.
• Selected by Miami in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Miami as a draft choice 7/25/05; Placed on injured reserve (knee) by Miami on 9/3/05; Waived by Miami 8/27/07; Signed by Tennessee (practice squad) 10/31/07; Signed by Tennessee (active roster) 11/27/07; Placed on reserve/suspended list by Commissioner 12/5/08; Suspension lifted by Commissioner 1/5/09; Traded to Seattle 4/24/10; Waived by Seattle 9/6/10; Signed by Denver 9/7/10; Placed on injured reserve by Denver 10/10/11.

Vickerson's Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Tackles — 7 vs. N.Y. Jets, 11/23/08 (4, twice, last at Baltimore, 1/12/13). Sacks — 2 at Carolina, 11/11/12 (none). Sack yards — 11 at Carolina, 11/11/12 (none). Interceptions — 1 at Oakland, 12/19/10 (none). Interception return yards — 4 at Oakland, 12/19/10 (none).

2012: Vickerson set career highs with 16 appearances and 14 starts in 2012... Finished with 40 tackles that marked the third-most of his career and helped Denver’s defense rank third against the run (91.1 ypg)... Tackled RB Chris Rainey for a 1-yard loss after a catch and added a QB hit in Denver’s season opener vs. Pit. (9/9)... Forced a fumble by RB Arian Foster that was recovered by DT Justin Bannan and led to a Broncos touchdown two plays later in the fourth quarter vs. Hou. (9/23)... Registered six tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage to go with a quarterback hit at N.E. (10/7)... Knocked down a third-down pass to force a punt in the fourth quarter vs. N.O. (10/28)... Set a career high with two sacks of Cam Newton at Car. (11/11)... Hit QB Joe Flacco on a fourth-down pass attempt to force an incompletion and turnover on downs in the third quarter at Bal. (12/16)... Made a season-best five solo tackles, including two for a loss vs. K.C. (12/30)... Made four tackles in his first career playoff start vs. Bal. (1/12).

2011: Vickerson started four of Denver’s first five games and totaled four tackles (3 solo) before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury on Oct. 10.

2010: Vickerson played a career-high 15 games (12 starts) for the Broncos after being waived by Seattle at the conclusion of the preseason and signing with Denver on Sept. 7... Totaled 42 tackles (33 solo), including a personal-best two sacks (4 yds.), with one interception (4 yds.), three passes defensed and one forced fumble... Started 12 of Denver’s final 13 games, missing the Broncos’ International Series Game at S.F. (10/31) in London with a groin injury.

2009: Vickerson appeared in 13 games (2 starts) with Tennessee and posted a career-high 49 tackles (24 solo) and three pass breakups... Started his first career game at defensive tackle vs. Jac. (11/1).

2008: Vickerson played seven games (0 starts) and was inactive for five contests with Tennessee, posting 23 tackles (10 solo), including 1.5 sacks (7.5 yds.), with one pass defensed and one fumble recovery... Contributed a career-best seven tackles (4 solo) and recovered a fumble vs. NYJ (11/23)... Recorded his first career sack at Det. (11/27)... Played in Tennessee’s AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Bal. (1/10) and tallied four solo tackles for the Titans.

2007: Vickerson played four games (0 starts) and totaled three tackles (2 solo) for Tennessee after a four-week stint on the Titans’ practice squad and an assignment with NFL Europe’s Cologne Centurions... Waived by Miami on Aug. 27 and allocated to the Centurions, where he started 10 games and posted 31 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, to earn first-team All-NFL Europa honors... Signed to Tennessee’s practice squad on Oct. 31 before being called up to the Titans’ active roster on Nov. 27... Made his NFL debut vs. Hou. (12/2) and collected two tackles.

2006: Vickerson was inactive for all 16 games with Miami.

2005: Selected by Miami in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft, Vickerson posted five tackles, including one sack, in the preseason before injuring his knee and being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 3.

COLLEGE: Vickerson played 44 games (19 starts) at Michigan State University, where he tallied 113 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 8.5 sacks, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 19 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks... Started 11 games as a senior and posted career highs in tackles (46), tackles for a loss (10.5) and sacks (4.5)... Opened six games as a sophomore and two more during his freshman season.

PERSONAL: Vickerson attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Detroit, where he earned PrepStar All-America honors following his senior season in which he helped his team to a 10-1 record and a Public School League title... Majored in criminal justice at Michigan State... Kevin Darnell Vickerson was born on Jan. 8, 1983,