Broncos release initial 53-man roster: A look at each position group

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The Broncos announced their archetypal 53-man roster contiguous aft the 2 p.m. NFL deadline. The Broncos got astir to posting their roster astatine 2:xx:

Quarterbacks (2)

Teddy Bridgewater
Drew Lock

No surprises present that the Broncos went with 2 quarterbacks and waived Brett Rypien for the 3rd consecutive preseason. If Rypien clears waivers, helium is an perfect signifier squad backmost due to the fact that of his regular-season crippled acquisition (beat the New York Jets past year) and cognition of the offense.

Running backs (4)

Melvin Gordon
Javonte Williams
Royce Freeman
Mike Boone

Boone (quad) volition caput to injured reserve, but being connected the 53-man roster makes him eligible to instrumentality aft missing a minimum of the archetypal 3 games. Damarea Crockett was 1 of the last cuts Tuesday afternoon. Look for the Broncos to motion different tailback aboriginal this week due to the fact that going with 3 steadfast players astatine this presumption is simply a gamble, possibly adjacent Crockett if helium clears waivers.

Tight ends (4)

Noah Fant
Albert Okwuegbunam
Eric Saubert
Andrew Beck (FB/TE)

Austin Fort and Shaun Beyer were the cuts astatine this presumption and 1 oregon some could extremity up connected the signifier squad, but remember, it’s lone a 16-player taxi squad, not 32 players similar immoderate privation you to believe. Overall, this was beauteous wide cut. Beck provides positional versatility and peculiar teams value, truthful helium was a near-lock to marque the roster.

Receivers (5)

Courtland Sutton
Jerry Jeudy
KJ Hamler
Tim Patrick
Diontae Spencer (KR/PR)

A full clump of receivers were waived, led by draught picks Tyrie Cleveland (2019 seventh-round) and Seth Williams (sixth circular this year). Also chopped were Kendall Hinton and De’Mornay Pierson-El. The determination to instrumentality with 5 alternatively of six receivers near Trinity Benson extracurricular and helium was traded to Detroit connected Tuesday morning.

Offensive lineman (8)

Garett Bolles (LT)
Dalton Risner (LG)
Lloyd Cushenberry (C)
Graham Glasgow (RG)
Bobby Massie (RT)
Quinn Meinerz (G/C)
Netane Muti (G)
Calvin Anderson (OT)

The lone existent astonishment was not keeping Austin Schlottmann connected the progressive roster to service arsenic the backup center. As it stands, if Cushenberry is injured in-game, the Broncos volition crook to Meinerz (third-round rookie) oregon descent Glasgow implicit to halfway and play Muti astatine close guard. The different linemen released were tackles Drew Himmelman (waived) and Cam Fleming (released truthful doesn’t person to done waivers).

Defensive enactment (6)

Shelby Harris (DE)
Dre’Mont Jones (DE)
Mike Purcell (NT)
DeShawn Williams (DL)
McTelvin Agim (DL)
Jonathan Harris (DL)

Six linemen is usually the norm for a 3-4 defense, but 5 are connected the archetypal roster aft Shamar Stephen was released (doesn’t person to spell done waivers). Williams’ preseason show gives this radical much extent than initially envisioned.

Linebackers (10)

Von Miller (OLB)
Bradley Chubb (OLB)
Josey Jewell (ILB)
Alexander Johnson (ILB)
Justin Strnad (ILB)
Baron Browning (ILB)
Malik Reed (OLB)
Jonathon Cooper (OLB)
Andre Mintze (OLB)
Jonas Griffin

Griffin was acquired Tuesday greeting successful a commercialized with San Francisco, but helium hasn’t played successful a regular play game. Derrek Tuszka, a 2020 seventh-round pick, was passed successful campy by Cooper (2021 seventh-round pick).

Cornerbacks (6)

Ronald Darby
Kyle Fuller
Pat Surtain II
Bryce Callahan
Michael Ojemudia
Kary Vincent

Ojemudia whitethorn extremity up connected injured reserve/eligible to instrumentality (hamstring) truthful the Broncos whitethorn beryllium looking for cornerback extent assistance this week. Vincent is the beneficiary of Ojemudia’s wounded — if they marque nary additions, helium could beryllium progressive for the opener.