Denver adds offensive line depth

GREELEY, Colo., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos Thursday signed veteran center Mark Fischer, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins.

Fischer, 28, has played in 22 games and started 16 since being drafted by the Redskins in the fifth round (140th overall) of the '98 draft. He spent most of the 2001 season on the injured reserve list after hurting his right knee in the preseason. Fischer did not play in the season's first three games, and was inactive for the next three before being placed on injured reserve Oct. 26.

The 6-3, 303-pounder started all 16 games for Washington in 2000 after taking over the position in training camp in place of the injured Cory Raymer. He played in six games in his rookie year, and in one postseason game in 1999.

Fischer was an All-Big Ten center as a senior at Purdue in 1997, and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He also earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior, playing both guard and tackle.

The Cincinnati native was a second-team all-state selection as a senior at LaSalle High School, and lettered in track and field as a shot-putter.