The Denver Broncos have until Tuesday at 4pm to whittle their roster down to 75 players. Today they made a number of roster moves to get closer to that number.
The Broncos waived or waived/injured 11 players Sunday, the team announced, bringing their roster total to 77 players. Among the cuts is wide receiver Greg Orton, who had a very strong offseason, but was sidelined by an ankle injury one week into training camp.
The players:
- WR Kemonte Bateman
- CB Mario Butler
- T Manase Foketi
- QB Ryan Katz
- LB Uona Kaveinga
- CB Nigel Malone
- WR Quincy McDuffie (waived/injured)
- WR Greg Orton (waived/injured)
- TE Deangelo Peterson
- DE Lanston Tanyi
- C Quentin Saulsberry
Some quick thoughts:
Three wide receivers gone
Denver releasing Bateman, McDuffie, and Orton this early only confirms what many have been saying all of training camp: the Broncos are only likely to carry five wide receivers into the regular season. Andre Caldwell and Tavarres King stand the best chance to be the othe rguys outside of Denver's Big 3.
Broncos may only keep two QB's
The fact that Ryan Katz is already gone could be interpreted to suggest the Broncos are not likely to keep him on the practice squad. That would mean Zac Dysert, seventh round draft pick, would be a prime practice squad candidate, leaving the Broncos with only two quarterbacks on the regular season 53-man roster.
Injuries suck
I'm glad I was able to go to training camp this year, because I was able to see with my own two eyes how impressive Greg Orton could be. He was the biggest star of practice through training camp's first several days - more so than Julius Thomas or Duke Ihenacho. His getting injured was extremely unfortunate, but since he was designated waived/injured the Broncos can stash him on the Injured Reserve list with that high ankle sprain if he clears waivers.
And since that is hardly a season-ending injury, unless he and the Broncos arrive at an injury settlement, he should really hit the ground running in Broncos camp next year.
Roster cuts in general suck
Good luck to all these former Broncos, wherever they may end up.
I really hate how people perceive players when they get released from a squad. It's nothing to laugh at or look down upon. This is hard!
— Duke Ihenacho (@NachoLyfe) August 25, 2013
Denver has until Tuesday to make two more roster moves and get down to 75 players.