The Broncos cut the roster down on Saturday to the final 53 players who will start the season against Baltimore on Sept. 13, with some surprise players being sent packing and several questions still looming.

Interesting Cut No. 1

At inside linebacker, Gary Kubiak opted for Todd Davis and Corey Nelson to back up Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan over Lamin Barrow and Steven Johnson. Barrow had a solid preseason and Johnson had appeared in at least ten games in all three of his seasons with the Broncos, including 16 in 2013 and 14 in 2014.

Inside linebacker was an area of surprising depth with the (hopefully) full return of Marshall and Trevathan, so perhaps there was more to John Elway’s Hard Knocks conversation with Texans GM Rick Smith than the team wanted to let on.

Still, none of the ILBs were moved before the deadline and Barrow and Johnson will hope to find homes elsewhere.

Interesting cut No. 2 says goodbye, maybe, to a local and fan favorite.