Tag: Samaje Perine

Sean Payton had a surprising reaction to Samaje Perine joining a division rival

Samaje Perine joined the Chiefs after being cut by the Broncos, but coach Sean Payton will still root for him — just not against Denver.

After the Denver Broncos released Samaje Perine earlier this week, the veteran running back quickly joined the Kansas City Chiefs, a division rival.

After practice on Wednesday, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked if stung to see a cut player join a division rival.

“Listen, it all stings when they go on,” Payton said. “And yet when I say this, and I mean this: having coached a number of players that have gone on, I can think of so many — Alex Anzalone, Trey Hendrickson, Marcus Williams, Reggie Bush to the Dolphins, Samaje — you root for them.

“I want them to do well. I really do. Now not against us, but you want to see them have success because you’ve invested in them. Then there’s an attachment with that time you’ve coached them.”

Payton was also happy to see wide receiver Tim Patrick land with the Detroit Lions because they are coached by Dan Campbell, one of Payton’s good friends.

The NFL is a business and winning leads to job security for coaches, but Payton’s still human. He wants to see his players have success, even if it’s with another team. Just not against the Broncos.

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9 players cut by Broncos this week have landed with new teams

Nine players cut by the Broncos this week have landed with NFL teams.

The Denver Broncos made 38 roster moves earlier this week to get down to a 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 season.

Of the 22 players that were waived by Denver, only one — offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs — was claimed. Jacobs was picked up by the New England Patriots on Wednesday.

The Broncos also released 11 veterans. Two of them — wide receiver Tim Patrick with the Detroit Lions and running back Samaje Perine with the Kansas City Chiefs — have already found new homes.

Another veteran — center Sam Mustipher — joined the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad. Four other ex-Denver players who were waived have also landed on practice squads, and the Broncos have re-signed 15 players to their own practice squad (it will be 16 soon).

Here’s the full list of players cut by Denver who have joined new clubs this week:

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:

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

After setting their 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad, the Broncos will turn their attention toward a Week 1 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.

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Former Bengals RB Samaje Perine signs with AFC rival after final cuts

The Bengals will play Samaje Perine early next season — not reunite with him.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t be doing a reunion with veteran running back Samaje Perine before the 2024 season.

In fact, the Bengals will have to line up against him.

Perine, the former Bengals running back who left in free agency before the 2023 season, joined the Kansas City Chiefs after final roster cuts across the league.

It initially looked like the Bengals might be able to get Perine back early this week when the Denver Broncos made him part of their final cuts.

The fact the Bengals only kept three running backs on the initial 53-man roster helped the idea and on Wednesday, the Bengals cut one of those — Trayveon Williams — to make room for the team’s only claim on the waiver wire.

Williams will be back, either on the practice squad or the active roster, pending more moves. But Perine won’t — unless we count the Week 2 encounter in Kansas City.

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Chiefs sign veteran ex-Bengals RB Samaje Perine

According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs are set to add ex-Cincinnati #Bengals RB Samaje Perine to their active roster.

According to a report from NFL Insider Mike Garafolo, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign former Broncos’ running back Samaja Perine to their active roster.

Perine was a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL draft out of the University of Oklahoma, where he won Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was a two-time All-Big 12 player. After starting his career in Washington, Perine bounced around the league, singing with four teams before landing on the Chiefs’ roster.

With Perine’s addition to the team’s active roster, the Chiefs are adding depth behind fan-favorite running back Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and breakout rookie Carson Steele.

Though the former Sooner is not expected to push Pacheco for a starting spot on Kansas City’s depth chart, fans expect him to see the field in a secondary or tertiary role when the Chiefs need a running back who can catch, or carry the ball out of the backfield.

 

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 explain decision to release veteran RB Samaje Perine

“It’s not just because they are young; we like the talent,” Broncos GM George Paton said of Denver’s backfield after cutting Samaje Perine.

The Denver Broncos released veteran running back Samaje Perine on Tuesday, a move that might have surprised NFL fans who are not familiar with the team’s backfield.

Denver opted to carry four running backs on the 53-man roster: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Blake Watson. All four are younger than Perine with more long-term upside.

“With Samaje, [he’s] another great pro,” GM George Paton said on Tuesday shortly after addressing the Tim Patrick release. “He’s going to move on and do well somewhere else. [That is] another stacked room and it’s not just because they are young, [but] we like the talent. They are young and they are talented, the whole group. Javonte, Jaleel, Estime and then this Watson kid is really talented. … [W]e like the room. We loved having Samaje here. He won us games. We just wish him the best.”

Perine was arguably the team’s best blocking and receiving option in the backfield, but he doesn’t contribute on special teams the way Denver’s young running backs will this season.

“[S]pecial teams does factor in at the running back position,” Paton said. “Audric’s probably going to be a four-core teamer. Jaleel can return and Watson can do some things on teams. That does factor in.”

As Paton noted, Perine should have no problem catching on elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Broncos will now look to build their practice squad. One potential candidate to return is running back Tyler Badie, who performed well in preseason. We will track all of Denver’s moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos release veteran running back Samaje Perine

The Broncos released veteran running back Samaje Perine on Tuesday.

The Denver Broncos have released veteran running back Samaje Perine after failing to find a trade partner.

Perine (5-11, 235 pounds) spent time with Washington, Miami and Cincinnati before signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Denver last spring. He served as the Broncos’ passing down and two-minute drill running back in 2023 with 50 receptions, 693 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.

Denver will take on a $1.5 million “dead money” salary cap hit with the move, but the Broncos will create a net savings of $3 million in cap space.

News broke on Monday that Denver was entertaining trade talks for Perine and planned to release him if the team couldn’t work out a trade.

The Broncos also listened to trade offers for wide receiver Tim Patrick and cornerback Damarri Mathis, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Mathis was placed on short-term IR after injuring his ankle in preseason. Patrick was released on Tuesday.

Perine, 28, will get a fresh start elsewhere and Denver will move forward with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookies Audric Estime and Blake Watson at running back.

We are tracking all of the team’s roster moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos backfield is set after Denver picks Blake Watson over Tyler Badie

The Broncos waived Tyler Badie on Tuesday, but undrafted rookie Blake Watson has made the initial 53-man roster.

The Denver Broncos are carrying four running backs on their initial 53-man roster after choosing undrafted rookie Blake Watson over Tyler Badie.

Badie had a good summer and scored two touchdowns in preseason (one rushing and one receiving), but Denver’s backfield is crowded. He will likely be a candidate to return on the practice squad, where he spent last season.

Watson was one of the top undrafted free agents available this spring and a sleeper to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster. He rushed 26 times for 84 yards and one touchdown in preseason.

Denver will also trade or release Samaje Perine today, a move that will save $3 million in salary cap space.

The Broncos are moving forward with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookies Audric Estime and Watson as their top four RBs in 2024. Badie could serve as the fifth RB on the practice squad.

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

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Report: Broncos listening to trade offers for RB Samaje Perine

The Broncos are listening to trade offers for RB Samaje Perine, according to a report from NFL Network.

The Denver Broncos are listening to trade offers for running back Samaje Perine, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Perine (5-11, 235 pounds) is arguably Denver’s best blocking and receiving back, but the Broncos have a crowded backfield with roster cuts on deck.

Javonte Williams is the team’s starter and Jaleel McLaughlin is a capable second-year change-of-pace back. Denver also just used a fifth-round pick to draft bruiser Audric Estime in April. Consequently, there doesn’t seem to be room for Perine on the 53-man roster.

“The #Broncos are expected to move on from respected 8-year veteran RB Samaje Perine, sources say,” Rapoport tweeted on Monday. “The team is engaged in a number of trade conversations around Perine and it could be a trade, rather than a release.”

If they are unable to find a trade partner, the team is expected to release Perine, a move that would save $3 million in salary cap space this season.

Perine served as Denver’s passing down and two-minute drill running back last fall, hauling in 50 receptions for 455 yards. He also rushed 53 times for 238 yards and one score in 2023.

Perine has totaled 3,021 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns in seven seasons (93 games) in the NFL. He will turn 29 years old next month.

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5 takeaways from the Broncos’ preseason finale

The Broncos looked good in their preseason finale on Sunday. Here are five quick takeaways from the game.

The Denver Broncos wrapped up preseason with a 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Here are five quick takeaways from Denver’s preseason finale.

1. Dondrea Tillman impressed: The ex-UFL pass rusher finished the day with five tackles on defense — two behind the line of scrimmage — two pass breakups (one saved a touchdown) and a tackle on special teams to boot. If there’s not room for Tillman on the 53-man roster, he will undoubtedly be a top candidate for the practice squad.

2. Keidron Smith finds the ball: Smith grabbed an interception in each of the team’s first two preseason games, then he recovered a fumble on Sunday. The Broncos might not have room for five safeties on the active roster, but Smith is giving them a tough decision.

3. The punter competition is a toss-up: Riley Dixon is the incumbent veteran with a larger body of work, but Trenton Gill showed off his strong leg against the Cardinals. Both players got two punts on Sunday — Dixon averaged 45.5 per boot and Gill averaged 61.0 yards per boot (helped by a 73-yard long). Gill is younger and cheaper than Dixon, so he might have a legitimate chance to make the squad.

4. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Samaje Perine were healthy scratches: The Broncos held out a host of players on Sunday, including nearly all of their starters. Usually, snaps in the fourth preseason are divvied up among bottom-of-the-roster players attempting to make the team. The fact that Humphrey and Perine were both inactive suggests either they are making the team or the Broncos plan to put them on the trade block and didn’t want to risk injury.

5. Three QBs will make the 53-man roster, unless…: After Sunday’s game, Broncos coach Sean Payton essentially confirmed that Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson will all make the active roster. That settles that. Unless it’s an elaborate scheme by Payton in an effort to trade Wilson. We’ll find out for sure when Denver sets a 53-man roster on Tuesday.

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