Tag: roster cuts

Why Broncos coach Sean Payton is happy about Tim Patrick outcome

Broncos coach Sean Payton was happy to see Tim Patrick land with the Lions and Dan Campbell, Payton’s good friend.

The Denver Broncos made a surprising roster cut on Tuesday when they released veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick, a fan favorite and key player in the locker room over the last seven seasons.

Broncos coach Sean Payton addressed the decision to cut Patrick after Wednesday’s practice session.

“That obviously was extremely difficult,” Payton said. “The other night in that preseason game against Green Bay, he made some plays. I’ve watched his progress. Obviously, his journey off of two seasons and the makeup and all the things that we look for.”

It wasn’t easy for Payton and Co. to part with Patrick, but they had younger receivers and needed space for other positions on the roster. Now that the dust has settled and Patrick has landed with the Detroit Lions, Payton is happy to see the receiver get a fresh start with a good friend.

“We visited for a few minutes,” Payton said of his conversations with Patrick. “I sent him a text today when I found out he was going to Detroit. I’m happy because I know Dan Campbell that well and I think the world of Tim. All of you that have covered him longer than I’ve coached him understand all the things he brings to the table aside from just being on the field. That was difficult.”

Patrick will now get an opportunity to make plays for Cambell’s Lions while the Broncos move forward with Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin at wide receiver.

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4 Broncos players change jersey numbers after roster cuts

Following a flurry of roster cuts, four Broncos players have changed their jersey numbers ahead of the 2024 season.

After making 38 roster moves this week, the Denver Broncos have set a 53-man roster and a 15-player practice squad. Following the flurry of moves, four players have changed jersey numbers as the dust settles.

Broncos practice squad wide receiver David Sills switched from No. 87 to No. 13, which was made available when receiver Phillip Dorsett was cut.

Denver running back Audric Estime switched from No. 37 to No. 23, formerly worn by cut linebacker Andre Smith.

Fellow running back Blake Watson switched from No. 43 to No. 25, which was formerly worn by Samaje Perine before he was released. Watson and safety Keidron Smith shared No. 43 during the offseason. Smith will stick with No. 43 going into the season.

Finally, practice squad running back Tyler Badie switched from No. 36 to No. 28, which was formerly worn by cut cornerback Art Green.

Broncos’ new jersey numbers

  • WR David Sills: No. 13
  • RB Audric Estime: No. 23
  • RB Blake Watson: No. 25
  • RB Tyler Badie: No. 28

Denver’s active roster now appears to be pretty set. The team has one more practice squad signing to make before completing a 70-player squad. We will track all of the team’s moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos’ practice squad is almost complete

The Broncos have two open spots left on their practice squad. Candidates include Calvin Throckmorton, Jonas Griffith and Oliver Jervis.

Story update: The Broncos announced that Calvin Throckmorton signed with the practice squad on Wednesday. There is now one spot remaining. See our original post below. 

After setting a 53-man roster on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos are now building a 17-player practice squad.

The Broncos managed to bring back veteran wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton after releasing them yesterday. Denver also re-signed seventh-round draft pick Nick Gargiulo and ex-UFL pass rusher Dondrea Tillman, and the team landed ex-Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham.

Those signings were big wins. The Broncos also had a few losses.

Denver wanted to bring back wide receivers Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil, but they opted to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, respectively. So the Broncos signed Michael Bandy and David Sills instead.

Denver now has two spots remaining on the practice squad. One of them is being reserved for offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton, if he’s interested. If Throckmorton chooses to sign elsewhere, fellow lineman Oliver Jervis is a fallback option, according to the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson.

The other spot is probably being held for linebacker Jonas Griffith, who is “sorting through his options,” according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

While we wait for the final two deals, here’s the list of not-yet-official practice squad signings for the Broncos:

  1. RB Tyler Badie
  2. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  3. WR Michael Bandy
  4. WR David Sills
  5. TE Donald Parham
  6. TE Thomas Yassmin
  7. FB Michael Burton
  8. OL Will Sherman
  9. OL Nick Garguilo
  10. DT Jordan Miller
  11. DL Matt Henningsen
  12. OLB Dondrea Tillman
  13. CB Reese Taylor
  14. DB Quinton Newsome
  15. DB Tanner McCalister

We are tracking all of Denver’s roster moves today on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos lose 2 WRs they wanted to sign to practice squad

The Broncos wanted to re-sign WRs Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil but lost them to the Steelers and Bills, respectively.

The Denver Broncos opted to carry five wide receivers on their 53-man roster this year, which left Tim Patrick, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil among their roster cuts this week.

Patrick quickly landed on his feet with the Detroit Lions and the Broncos were able to re-sign Humphrey to their practice squad. The two others got away.

Johnson signed with the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Virgil signed with the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. Denver wanted to bring back both receivers.

The Broncos could not top the Steelers offering a reunion with wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni and quarterback Russell Wilson. Denver also “badly wanted” to bring back Virgil, but he believed Buffalo offered a clearer path to the active roster.

After missing out on Johnson and Virgil, the Broncos added Humphrey, David Sills and Michael Bandy to their practice squad. Our practice squad tracker shows two spots left for Denver. The Broncos will likely want to add another offensive lineman, and linebacker Jonas Griffith is also still available. We are tracking all the team’s signings on this page.

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Samaje Perine signing with division rival after being cut by Broncos

After being cut by the Broncos, RB Samaje Perine is signing with the division-rival Chiefs.

Former Denver Broncos running back Samaje Perine is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo first reported Wednesday.

The Broncos and Chiefs had trade talks about Perine earlier this week but weren’t able to get a deal done, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Denver released Perine on Tuesday after failing to get a trade across the finish line. Perine quickly landed on his feet in Kansas City.

The veteran running back will now get two opportunities for some revenge against his former team this fall. The Chiefs will host the Broncos in Week 10 and later travel to Denver in Week 18 this season.

Perine, who will turn 29 next month, rushed 53 times for 238 yards and one touchdown with the Broncos last season. His biggest contributions came on passing downs as Perine hauled in 50 receptions for 455 yards in 2023.

Denver opted to carry Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Blake Watson on the 53-man roster this year, and Tyler Badie is expected to return on the practice squad. Perine, meanwhile, joins a KC backfield that includes Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Carson Steele.

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Broncos signing ex-Chargers TE Donald Parham to practice squad

The Broncos are signing former Chargers TE Donald Parham to their practice squad, according to ESPN.

The Denver Broncos are signing former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham to their practice squad, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Parham (6-8, 237 pounds) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Stetson with the Detroit Lions in 2019. He later spent time with the now-Washington Commanders and then spent the 2020 XFL spring season playing with the Arlington Renegades.

After being named to the mid-season All-XFL team, Parham signed with the Chargers when the spring league suspended operations due to COVID-19. Parham went on to spend the last four years in L.A., hauling in 67 receptions for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns in 47 games (23 starts).

Parham will now serve as Denver’s fifth tight end from the practice squad, joining a room that includes Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins. Players on the practice squad are eligible to be elevated to the game-day roster three times during the season.

We are tracking all of Denver’s practice squad signings on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos re-sign 2 veterans to practice squad after roster cuts

After being released on Tuesday, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey and FB Michael Burton are returning to the Broncos on the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos are bringing back two veterans on the practice squad after releasing them on Tuesday.

After failing to make the 53-man roster, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton are re-signing on Denver’s practice squad.

Humphrey (6-4, 225 pounds) played for Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2021 and then followed Payton to Denver in 2023. He also started last season on the practice squad but was quickly promoted to the active roster after safety Caden Sterns was injured in Week 1.

Humphrey dressed for all 17 games last season, earning eight starts. He hauled in 13 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns in 2023.

Burton also spent time with Payton and the Saints during the 2019 offseason and then again in 2020. He signed with the Broncos last year and appeared in all 17 games. Used primarily as a blocker on offense, Burton rushed seven times for nine yards and four first downs last season. He also played 290 snaps on special teams.

Humphrey and Burton are both candidates to be elevated to the game-day roster for a Week 1 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.

We are tracking all of Denver’s practice squad moves on Broncos Wire.

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Pass rusher reverts to Broncos’ IR list after clearing waivers

After clearing waivers, OLB Durell Nchami has reverted to the Broncos’ season-ending injured reserve list.

Denver Broncos pass rusher Durell Nchami reverted to the team’s injured reserve list after clearing waivers on Wednesday morning.

Nchami (6-4, 258 pounds) was waived with an injury designation when the Broncos set their 53-man roster on Tuesday. He goes on the season-ending IR list, so unless Denver reaches an injury settlement and cuts him, Nchami won’t be eligible to play in 2024.

Nchami, 24, joined the team’s practice squad last December and re-signed with the team following the 2023 season. He joins fellow pass rusher Ronnie Perkins and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey on the team’s season-ending IR list. Cornerback Damarri Mathis was designated to return from IR and he will be eligible to re-join the active roster in Week 5.

The Broncos are carrying four outside linebackers on the 53-man roster: Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss and Nik Bonitto.

If they clear waivers, Dondrea Tillman and Thomas Incoom will likely be candidates to return on the practice squad to add more depth at OLB.

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Tracking ex-Broncos players signed by NFL teams this week

We are tracking former Broncos players who were picked up by NFL teams on this page.

After making 38 roster moves to get down to a 53-man roster, the Denver Broncos — and every other team — will now hit the waiver wire and then begin building practice squads for the 2024 season.

We will be tracking players who were waived and released by the Broncos as they land with other teams on this page.

Ex-Broncos signed to active rosters:

1. OT Demontrey Jacobs (New England Patriots)
2. RB Samaje Perine (Kansas City Chiefs)

Ex-Broncos signed to practice squads:

1. WR Tim Patrick (Detroit Lions)
2. DL Elijah Garcia (New York Giants)
3. C Sam Mustipher (Los Angeles Chargers)
4. WR Brandon Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
5. WR Jalen Virgil (Buffalo Bills)
6. OLB Thomas Incoom (Carolina Panthers)
7. CB Art Green (New York Giants)

We are also tracking all of Denver’s roster moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos practice squad tracker: 17 signings on deck

After sitting a 53-man roster, the Broncos can now build a 17-player practice squad. We are tracking all of the signings on this page.

After finalizing an initial 53-man roster and submitting waiver claims, the Denver Broncos can now begin building a 17-player practice squad.

The NFL has a 16-player limit for practice squads, but teams with an international player get an exemption for a 17th player as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Broncos rookie tight end Thomas Yassmin qualifies for the IPP program, so he does not count against the 16-player limit.

We will be tracking all of Denver’s practice squad signings on this page. Keep in mind that no signings are official until confirmed by the team.

We are also tracking ex-Broncos players signed by other teams here.

Broncos practice squad signings

1. RB Tyler Badie (official)
2. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (official)
3. WR Michael Bandy (official)
4. WR David Sills (official)
5. TE Donald Parham (official)
6. TE Thomas Yassmin (official)
7. FB Michael Burton (official)
8. OL Will Sherman (official)
9. OL Nick Gargiulo (official)
10. DT Jordan Miller (official)
11. DL Matt Henningsen (official)
12. OLB Dondrea Tillman (official)
13. CB Reese Taylor (official)
14. DB Quinton Newsome (official)
15. DB Tanner McCalister (official)
16. OL Calvin Throckmorton (official)
17. LB Levelle Bailey (source)

With a 53-man roster and a 17-player practice squad, the Broncos will have 70 players under contract going into the 2024 NFL season.

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