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7 Denver Broncos free agents and others who won’t be back in 2022

By Sayre Bedinger

Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Broncos, Diontae Spencer
Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer (11) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos free agents who won’t be back in 2022

5. Diontae Spencer, wide receiver/return specialist

Over the course of the 2021 season, it’s become abundantly clear that the Denver Broncos need to upgrade over Diontae Spencer in the return game.

Spencer was a godsend for this team in the days leading up to the 2019 season when he came over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. At that time, the Broncos would have done just about anything to get a return man in the building who could just catch punts, much less change the outcome of games with his explosive ability in that phase.

Unfortunately, Spencer has been a disappointment in the 2021 season after taking one punt back to the house (vs. Carolina) in 2020.

The Broncos have been stashing some guys on their practice squad that could be called up to return kicks and punts in the coming weeks. Specifically, we could see guys like De’Mornay Pierson-El and newly acquired Kerrith Whyte get some opportunities late in the season, especially now that Spencer had a bad muffed punt in the Broncos’ critical matchup against the Chiefs.

For a long time now, the Broncos have justified keeping Spencer around when he’s offering nothing offensively and nothing in the return game.

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