The Denver Broncos must trim their roster from 80 players to 53 by 2 p.m. MT Tuesday, Aug. 30. As the first and second wave of roster cuts happen, this page will have every roster move leading up to the final roster being set in stone.
Denver’s personnel department is led in collaboration by general manager George Paton, head coach Nathaniel Hackett and his staff.
Which players make the active roster and which players could be practice squad additions?
Denver Broncos roster cuts tracker
Monday, Aug. 29 Transactions List:
Veteran punter Sam Martin was released on Monday (source) [Brings the roster to 79 players.]
Cornerback Bless Austin has been waived. (source) [78 players]
Running back JaQuan Hardy has been waived (source) [77 players]
Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel has been waived (source) [76 players]
Offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez has been waived (source) [75 players]
Cornerback Donnie Lewis has been waived/injured (source) [74 players]
Tuesday, Aug. 30 Transactions List:
Defensive lineman McTelvin Agim has been waived (source) [73 players]
Offensive lineman Zack Johnson has been waived (source) [72 players]
Wide receiver Darrius Shepherd has been waived (source) [71 players]
Tight end Dylan Parham has been waived (source) [70 players]
Offensive lineman Quinn Bailey has been waived (source) [69 players]
Outside linebacker Malik Reed has been traded to the Steelers (source) [68 players]
Quarterback Josh Johnson has been released (source) [67 players]
Defensive lineman Jonathan Harris has been waived (source) [66 players]
Running back Devine Ozigbo has been waived (source) [65 players]
Wide receiver Kendall Hinton has been waived (source) [64 players]
Offensive lineman Michael Niese has been waived (source) [63 players]
Safety J.R. Reed has been waived (source) [62 players]
Inside linebacker Kana’i Mauga has been waived (source) [61 players]
Wide receiver Brandon Johnson has been waived/injured with an injury settlement (source) [60 players]
Offensive lineman Netane Muti has been waived (source) [59 players]
Wide receiver Seth Williams has been waived (source) [58 players]
Cornerback Faion Hicks has been waived (source) [57 players]
Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian has been waived (source) [56 players]
Defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo has been waived (source) [55 players]
Tight end Eric Tomlinson has been waived (source) [54 players]
The final cut was defensive tackle Mike Purcell, who was released per the team. [53 players]
Denver Broncos 53-man roster
Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Brett Rypien (2)
Running Back: Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone (3)
Wide Receiver: Courtland Sutton, KJ Hamler, Jerry Jeudy, Montrell Washington, Jalen Virgil, Tyrie Cleveland (6)
Tight End: Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert, Andrew Beck, Eric Tomlinson [post Ojemudia-IR move] (5)
Offensive Line: Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Quinn Meinerz, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Cam Fleming, Luke Wattenberg, Graham Glasgow (9)
Cornerback: Patrick Surtain II, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Essang Bassey, Michael Ojemudia[IR- does not count towards active 53], Damarri Mathis (6)
Safety: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, P.J. Locke, Caden Sterns, Delarrin Turner-Yell (5)
Inside Linebacker: Josey Jewell, Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad (4)
Outside Linebacker: Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Aaron Patrick (6)
Defensive Line: Dre’Mont Jones, D.J. Jones, DeShawn Williams, Matt Henningsen, Eyioma Uwazurike, Mike Purcell [post Dulcich-IR move] (6)
Specialists: Brandon McManus, Corliss Waitman, Jacob Bobenmoyer (3)
Denver Broncos Practice Squad roster
The Broncos have begun to sign players to their practice squad.
Quarterback Josh Johnson signed to the practice squad (source) [1/16 spots]
Tight End Dylan Parham signed to the practice squad (source) [2/16 spots]
Offensive Lineman Netane Muti signed to the practice squad (source) [3/16 spots]
Cornerback Faion Hicks signed to the practice squad (source) [4/16 spots]
Defensive Lineman McTelvin Agim signed to the practice squad (source) [5/16 spots]
Inside Linebacker Kana’i Mauga signed to the practice squad (source) [6/16 spots]
Running Back Devine Ozigbo signed to the practice squad (source) [7/16 spots]
Defensive Lineman Jonathan Harris signed to the practice squad (source) [8/16 spots]
Wide Receiver Kendall Hinton signed to the practice squad (source) [9/16 spots]
Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian signed to the practice squad (source) [10/16 spots]
Offensive Lineman Quinn Bailey signed to the practice squad (source) [11/16 spots]
Broncos placed on short-term injured reserve
Broncos general manager George Paton said on Tuesday that the team will place cornerback Michael Ojemudia and tight end Greg Dulcich on short-term injured reserve at 2 PM MT.
This move will subsequently open up two roster spots on the 53-man roster.
Paton said that veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson and defensive lineman Mike Purcell will be re-signed to the 53 afterward.
Injured Reserve:
Cornerback Michael Ojemudia (elbow): will miss first four weeks of NFL season.
Tight End Greg Dulcich (hamstring): will miss first four weeks of NFL season.
Roster cut headlines
The Denver Broncos first wave of roster moves ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown deadline included veteran punter Sam Martin. Martin was with the Broncos the last two years and he was in competition with Corliss Waitman throughout training camp and the preseason.
With Martin’s release, Waitman will be the Broncos starting punter this season. Denver saves nearly $1.42 million in cap space with the move.
Throughout the preseason, Waitman showed off his powerful leg with various punts that held a hangtime of 4.9 or higher. His best hangtime came against the Buffalo Bills on a 63-yard punt that was in the air for 5.30 seconds.
Waitman’s leg gives special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes an option that allows his coverage unit to get downfield to pin punts inside the 20-yard line or get to the returner to force a fair catch.
On six punt attempts in the preseason, Waitman pinned two inside the 20-yard line, one touchback, and forced five total fair catches.
If the Broncos special teams unit expects to make a jump this upcoming season, Waitman will help add value to a unit that gave up massive yardage to opposing return units in 2021.
Not to mention, Waitman adds value at elevation that other NFL teams have capitalized on for the last several seasons.
Brett Rypien wins backup quarterback job
Russell Wilson’s backup quarterback is set.
With Josh Johnson’s release on Tuesday, Brett Rypien slides into the No. 2 spot at quarterback.
Rypien demonstrated consistency in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, pushing the ball downfield vertically and moving the offense downfield.
Denver signed Johnson to their practice squad on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Malik Reed traded to Steelers
On Tuesday, the Broncos traded outside linebacker Malik Reed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In return, the Broncos receive the Steelers’ 6th-round draft pick in 2023. The Steelers receive Denver’s 7th-round pick in 2023.
Kendall Hinton a surprise waiver
One surprising move occurred during roster cuts after it was announced wide receiver Kendall Hinton was waived.
Hinton was an impact player during training camp and the preseason on both offense and special teams. The hope inside of the building is that Hinton will clear waivers where the team can bring him back onto the practice squad.
