2004: Sykes appeared in three games, contributing mostly on special teams and seeing a few snaps on defense. Sykes was inactive for Denver’s final 10 games: vs. Ind. (1/2), at Tenn. (12/25), at K.C. (12/19), vs. Mia. (12/12), at S.D. (12/5), vs. Oak. (11/28), at N.O. (11/21), vs. Hou. (11/7), vs. Atl. (10/31) and at Cin. (10/25). He was active for the first time in three games at Oak. (10/17) and played special teams only. He was inactive for Denver’s games vs. Car. (10/10), at T.B. (10/3) and vs. S.D. (9/26). He did not register a play on defense at Jac. (9/19) but did play on special teams. Sykes played sparingly on defense vs. K.C. (9/12) during the Broncos’ opening day win, seeing action on only a few plays.

2003: Sykes saw action in all 16 games, starting eight, and registered 64 tackles (49 solo) and a forced fumble while also tying for fourth on the team with 12 special teams tackles, recovering a fumble and blocking a punt on special teams. He moved into the starting lineup at weakside linebacker in Wk. 7 at Min. (10/19) after Ian Gold was placed on injured reserve. In the opener at Cin. (9/7), he recovered a fumble on a kickoff. Sykes recorded his first special teams tackle at S.D. (9/14). In Wk. 3 vs. Oak. (9/22), he registered his first multi-tackle game with two stops on special teams. Sykes added a special teams tackle in Wk. 4 vs. Det. (9/28) and in Wk. 6 vs. Pit. (10/12). In Wk. 7 at Min. (10/19) Sykes moved into the starting lineup, but did not register a start in the game because the Broncos opened defensively in a nickel package. He did, however, see the first defensive action of his career as the weakside linebacker and recorded five tackles (3 solo) against the Vikings. Sykes notched his first career start in Wk. 8 at Balt. (10/26), registering a career-high 10 tackles (8 solo) and a caused fumble when he jarred the ball loose from Jamal Lewis on the 1-yd. line, a fumble that the Ravens would recover. He started at strongside linebacker vs. N.E. (11/3), recording eight tackles (6 solo) and two special teams stops and added two more special teams tackles vs. S.D. (11/16). Sykes tallied seven tackles (5 solo) vs. Chi. (11/23) and added six tackles (5 solo) and a special teams stop at Oak. (11/30) the following week. He registered six solo tackles vs. K.C. (12/7) and added nine tackles (7 solo) and a special teams stop vs. Cle. (12/14). At Ind. (12/21), Sykes was the primary weakside linebacker but didn't start when the defense began the game in the nickel and tallied one solo tackle while also adding a special team stop. He also recorded his first blocked kick when he blocked the 3rd-quarter punt of Colts punter Hunter Smith. The following week at G.B. (12/28), he registered nine tackles and tied a career high with eight solo stops. Sykes started and tallied four tackles (2 solo) and a pass deflection in the Broncos' AFC Wild Card game at Ind. (1/4).

2002: Sykes—after joining the Broncos as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Colorado—spent the entire season on Denver’s practice squad.

COLLEGE: Sykes played in 37 games (28 starts) at Colorado, posting 330 tackles (212 solo), including 12.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss, as well as one interception, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. As a senior, he started the first four games of the season, but an MRI on Oct. 4 revealed that he had a herniated disc (C 3-4 vertebrae, the upper neck area); furthe