The Denver Broncos made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, with one of them being the release of a veteran cornerback.
We just talked about how the return of Duke Dawson, who was just activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, could be a boost for a depleted secondary. Instead, the Broncos chose to waive Dawson on Tuesday.
This is an interesting move for a team that has struggled in the secondary all season and with Patrick Surtain getting hurt this past Sunday, it’s even stranger. Though Surtain’s injury was certainly feared to be worse at first, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported that he will miss some time.
While Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey have yet to take the field this year, Dawson was expected to have a role on defense. His release suggests that the team has confidence in one of its corners to take the field or re-take the field soon.
Dawson was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the New England Patriots. They traded him to the Broncos for next to nothing following that season.
Dawson was in his third year with the Broncos. He played in 26 games, making four starts and registered 17 total tackles and a fumble recovery with the team.
Will Essang Bassey or Patrick Surtain be ready for the Eagles game?
It was thought that the Broncos may lean on his experience as the secondary has been a weakness for the team this season despite big free-agent signings of Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller and the team using its first-round pick on Surtain.
Clearly, the Broncos didn’t see Dawson as a productive piece of the team’s future and after a game in which they were up 30-0 at one point on the road against the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys, it’s tough to argue any decisions made in regards to personnel.
As of now, the Broncos will prepare to battle the Philadelphia Eagles with Darby, Fuller, Nate Hairston and Mike Ford as the only healthy cornerbacks on the 53-man roster.
Is it possible that either Surtain or Bassey is able to play this Sunday?