Denver Broncos: Von Miller, Courtland Sutton, Mike Purcell avoid PUP list
The Denver Broncos and many other teams have added players to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Those players were cornerback Essang Bassey, cornerback/safety Duke Dawson, and rookie linebacker Baron Browning.
Both Bassey and Dawson tore an ACL late last season, so it is not a surprise to see them being sidelined, just seven months after their injuries.
It is unfortunate for all three of these players to be missing this time, but it is better to keep them out of harm’s way so that they can make a full recovery. It might end up being that Bassey and Dawson get beat out by other cornerbacks or, in Dawson’s case, safeties.
The Broncos invested in the secondary during the 2021 NFL Draft by using their first-round pick on Patrick Surtain II, while also adding to the position via free agency with Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller.
Denver also added two safeties back-to-back in the draft with Caden Sterns and Jamar Johnson. It certainly is possible that Dawson could get beat out by those rookies — especially if the team decides to keep four or five (Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Sterns, Johnson and potentially P.J. Locke). It’s also a possibility that Locke is the odd man out.
Von Miller, other big names avoid PUP list.
Von Miller, who missed the entire 2020 season with a leg injury, has avoided being placed on the PUP list. That’s a huge step to his recovery and a good sign for what’s to hopefully come.
Defensive lineman Mike Purcell, who underwent Lisfranc surgery, has also avoided being placed on the list. Purcell suffered the injury in late October of 2020.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton also missed the entire 2020 season (minus a small handful of plays) following a torn ACL. He, along with tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, avoided the PUP list as well. This will certainly be very helpful to the quarterbacks and their competition.
Hopefully, Bassey, Dawson, and Browning each make a full and speedy recovery. It will be very important to have all three of them back and fighting for snaps.