ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed free-agent cornerback Marquice Cole and practice-squad tackle Vinston Painter to their active roster and placed cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive end Derek Wolfe on injured reserve, it was announced.
Cole (5-10, 195 pounds) is a fifth-year player who has seen action in 64 regular-season games (2 starts) with the N.Y. Jets (2009-11) and New England (2012-13), totaling 36 tackles (31 solo), four interceptions (49 yds.), 14 passes defensed and three fumble recoveries in addition to 51 special-teams stops. In eight career postseason contests, he owns five defensive tackles (2 solo) and five special-teams stops.
Signed by Oakland as a college free agent in 2007 from Northwestern University, he spent his first two NFL seasons competing on practice squads with Tennessee and New Orleans. He signed with the Jets in 2009 and went on to play in 37 regular-season games (1 start) and six playoff contests for the club over the next three years.
He was as an unrestricted free-agent acquisition by the Patriots in 2012 and participated in 27 games (1 start) over the last two seasons before being released on Dec. 26.
A four-year letterman for the Wildcats, he finished his collegiate career with 114 tackles, seven interceptions and one sack in 43 games.
Cole graduated from Hillcrest (Ill.) High School and was born on Nov. 13, 1983, in Hazel Crest, Ill. His first name is pronounced Mar-KWEECE.
Painter is a rookie who spent the entire season competing on the club’s practice squad after being selected in the sixth round (173rd overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft from Virginia Tech.
He played 32 career games for the Hokies, including opening all 13 contests as a senior in 2012 to earn honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition.
A native of Norfolk, Va., Painter was born on Oct. 11, 1989.
