The Denver Broncos cut their roster down to 80 players with a series of moves, including the addition of a new running back after another injury.
The Denver Broncos have officially cut their roster down to the NFL-mandated 80 players prior to Tuesday afternoon’s 2:00 PM MT deadline. There were no really shocking names among the cuts or procedural moves, although linebacker Josh Watson — who started the team’s first preseason game along with Justin Strnad — was among the second wave of moves.
The team announced moves on Monday to get the roster to 82 players and the other two moves trickled in on Tuesday morning.
The #Broncos have released LB Josh Watson, source said, a player who spent most of last season on the active roster.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2021
Broncos waive WR Branden Mack per source. Down to 80. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) August 24, 2021
Let’s take a look at all of the roster moves to get down to 80 players by the Denver Broncos.
Released/Waived/Waived Injured
- OLB Pita Taumoepenu (released)
- LB Josh Watson (waived)
- WR Branden Mack (waived)
- RB Adrian Killins (waived/injured)
- OL Nolan Laufenberg (waived)
Injured Reserve
- OL Brett Jones
Signed
- RB Stevie Scott III
Unfortunately, Pita Taumoepenu was unable to be a factor in the rotation off the edge and the Denver Broncos clearly have options there maybe six deep when you look at the young guys Jonathon Cooper, Derrek Tuszka, and Andre Mintze.
Josh Watson was a key special teams player last year who was shuffled up from the practice squad most weeks. He has been with the team for a couple of years but I think his release paves the way for Curtis Robinson to be the next linebacker in waiting.
It will be fascinating to see if the team rosters Robinson as a stash, or if they try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
It would have been nearly impossible for a player like Branden Mack to come in and make the roster, but this move signifies the Broncos maybe won’t even be bringing him aboard the practice squad. Time will tell. He didn’t make much of an impression throughout the offseason program at least from an outside perspective.
The Denver Broncos also have a really strong interior offensive line, so the losses here of Brett Jones and Nolan Laufenberg probably will not even be noticed by fans watching the games.
Quinn Meinerz has put his potential on display in preseason action, and the team obviously loves Netane Muti and Lloyd Cushenberry as well.
The Broncos recently signed Adrian Killins to shore up their running back depth, but he suffered a significant injury in the team’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Injuries are the worst and Killins was a very intriguing dart throw with sub-4.4 speed, but it will have to wait at least a year if the Broncos stash him on IR.
In his absence, as well as the absence of LeVante Bellamy (who cleared waivers and reverted to IR) as well as Mike Boone, the Denver Broncos are bringing in another powerful running back in former Indiana Hoosiers star Stevie Scott III.
Scott is a rocked up 6-feet, 225 pounds and he looks every bit of it.
He doesn’t have great straight-line speed or burst, but he’s known for his ability to read blocks and bounce off of contact in tight spaces.
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The Broncos will have one more game in preseason play to look at their now 80-man roster and figure out which guys are making the 53 and which guys will be practice squad-bound. Given the increase to 16 practice squad members, it’s safe to say that the majority of the 80 guys that are still around could make up the Broncos’ initial active roster and practice squad.