HEADLINES

Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys 

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikke

Schlottmann suffered what Brian Daboll called a long-term injury. Elaborating on the injury Schlottmann suffered in practice Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the veteran backup O-lineman will rehab a broken fibula. The injury is expected to shut down the free agency addition for at least two months. No surgery is on tap for Schlottmann. The Giants considering him for activation may depend on their injury situation, as teams only have eight regular-season IR activations. The Giants have seven presently, as they used a summer IR designation on linebacker Matthew Adams on Tuesday.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West

August 28th, 2024 at 2:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.

Denver Broncos

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed:

Claimed:

  • CB Eric Scott Jr.

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Placed on IR: 

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

2024 NFL Waiver Order

August 28th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Waiver claims can begin coming in at 11am CT. While the waiver order will depend on 2024 records in several weeks, teams’ 2023 finishes currently determine it. Here is how the waiver priority list stacks up heading into today’s round of claims:

  1. Carolina Panthers
  2. Washington Commanders
  3. New England Patriots
  4. Arizona Cardinals
  5. Los Angeles Chargers
  6. New York Giants
  7. Tennessee Titans
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. Chicago Bears
  10. New York Jets
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Denver Broncos
  13. Las Vegas Raiders
  14. New Orleans Saints
  15. Indianapolis Colts
  16. Seattle Seahawks
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars
  18. Cincinnati Bengals
  19. Los Angeles Rams
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers
  21. Miami Dolphins
  22. Philadelphia Eagles
  23. Cleveland Browns
  24. Dallas Cowboys
  25. Green Bay Packers
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  27. Houston Texans
  28. Buffalo Bills
  29. Detroit Lions
  30. Baltimore Ravens
  31. San Francisco 49ers
  32. Kansas City Chiefs

Broncos Release Tim Patrick, Samaje Perine To Trim Roster To 53

August 27th, 2024 at 4:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams have moved their rosters to 53 players. Here is how the Broncos pared theirs down to the regular-season limit:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

  • OLB Durell Nchami

Placed on reserve/PUP:

IR/designated for return:

Patrick and Perine trades did not come to fruition. Both veterans are heading to free agency. Patrick had been with the Broncos since joining their practice squad in 2017; only Garett Bolles has been on the team longer. But Denver has added several wide receivers under Sean Payton‘s watch. Patrick, a John Elway-era pickup who signed an extension under GM George Paton, became expendable for the younger talent. The 30-year-old wideout has recovered from the ACL and Achilles tears that prevented him from playing a down with Russell Wilson. Humphrey may well be a practice squad option, given his New Orleans past with Payton.

Perine, 28, has been connected to a Bengals return. The veteran backup/pass-down option can now sign anywhere he chooses. Perine set a career high in receiving yardage (455) during his one-and-done Broncos run; Denver’s dead money charge ($1.5MM) will likely be offset if/once Perine lands elsewhere.

Sanders sustained an Achilles tear this offseason. The 2023 third-round pick figures to be in the team’s plans for later this season, but he will miss time — at least four games, per the PUP designation — on his rehab trek. Mathis must also miss four games, having suffered a high ankle sprain. The third-year cornerback is slated to return at some point, and the Broncos are using an IR-return designation, dropping their number from eight to seven to start the season.

Burton was viewed as a safe bet to make the team, and while roster gymnastics — which are less useful now that this IR-return tweak is in the mix — could bring him back, he received word of a release. Burton is a nine-year vet who spent last season with the Broncos. Mustipher signed this offseason but was not viewed as a true contender for the center spot, which appears set to go to 2022 fifth-round pick Luke Wattenberg.

Many of these players figure to be brought back to Denver’s practice squad, which can be set beginning Wednesday. Sixteen players will fill out that unit.

Broncos To Cut LB Jonas Griffith

August 27th, 2024 at 1:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonas Griffith has gone from competing for a starting inside linebacker job to being cut. The Broncos are going with another option alongside Alex Singleton and are waiving Griffith, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

Despite Griffith having missed the past 1 1/2 seasons and not being a Sean Payton-era addition, the team extended the young linebacker early this offseason. A starter for the Broncos back in 2022, Griffith is now on the waiver wire.

Cody Barton has won the Broncos’ ILB job alongside Griffith. Denver had signed the former Seattle and Washington starter in free agency but had pitted him against Griffith entering training camp. The Broncos gave Barton a one-year, $2.5MM deal that came nearly fully guaranteed; Griffith signed for one year and $985K.

The Broncos moved on from multiyear starter Josey Jewell this offseason; the seventh-year veteran rejoined one-and-done Denver DC Ejiro Evero in Carolina. The team, amid a rather historic cap crunch thanks to the Russell Wilson development, saved some money by bringing in Barton. Griffith will now look for a gig elsewhere, but he is riding no momentum.

Griffith started eight games under Evero in 2022 but missed the team’s final eight contests with a foot injury. The former UDFA then missed all of 2023 with an ACL tear. Griffth, 27, enjoyed a chance to regain a starting role for the Broncos. It is unlikely he will have that opportunity elsewhere, though injuries depleting teams’ LB corps could help his cause down the road.

 

Broncos CB Damarri Mathis Generating Trade Interest

August 26th, 2024 at 6:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Broncos veterans are coming up in trades talks, as Sean Payton is set to move on from Tim Patrick and Samaje Perine. Another position group has attracted some interest as well.

The team went through a cornerback competition in training camp — to see who would start on the boundary opposite Patrick Surtain. This battle would not have been necessary had Damarri Mathis, who started for most of 2022 in place of an injured Ronald Darby, held onto the job last season. But Vance Joseph benched the 2022 fourth-rounder, leading to a competition forming this offseason.

Denver, which did not re-sign primary 2023 CB2 starter Fabian Moreau, has nevertheless received trade calls on Mathis, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. It does not look like the third-year corner is going anywhere, however. The Broncos are planning to keep the Pittsburgh alum, per Fowler, with an injury intervening as well. Mathis sustained a high ankle sprain against the Cardinals on Sunday, 9News’ Mike Klis adds.

Mathis was set to make Denver’s 53-man roster, Klis adds, though this would have come as a backup. Riley Moss has primarily worked as the Broncos’ starter as of late; the 2023 third-rounder had been viewed as the frontrunner going into camp. Denver also signed ex-Bills and Steelers starter Levi Wallace as veteran insurance. He is expected to make the 53-man roster, with fifth-round rookie Kris Abrams-Draine also set to earn a spot.

The Broncos had Darby in place as their primary Surtain complementary piece in 2022, but a season-ending injury led to Mathis making 11 starts that season. After Mathis had held his own under Ejiro Evero in 2022, Denver benched Mathis six games into last season. Pro Football Focus rated the 5-foot-11 defender as the league’s second-worst CB regular in 2023, though teams still appeared curious about his potential. Two years remain on Mathis’ rookie deal.

As of now, the Broncos are likely to roll out a Surtain-Moss-Ja’Quan McMillian trio at corner. It remains to be seen if the team will carry Mathis onto its 53-man roster or use one of its two early IR-return slots. If the Broncos place Mathis on IR before finalizing their 53-man roster, they would lose one of their eight IR activations before the season starts.

WR Phillip Dorsett, DL Angelo Blackson Among Broncos’ Early Cuts

August 26th, 2024 at 5:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos began moving down toward the 53-man limit. Teams need to reduce rosters to the regular-season limit by 3pm CT on Tuesday. Denver has higher-profile moves in the works, aiming to trade Tim Patrick and Samaje Perine, but multiple other vested veterans are part of this initial cut contingent.

Released:

Waived:

A former first-round pick, Dorsett never looked like a 53-man candidate on a Broncos team that has made a few moves at wide receiver this offseason — to the point Patrick is no longer in its plans. This marks the second time this year the Broncos released Dorsett; they cut him in mid-May only to re-sign him days later. Dorsett, 31, joined the Broncos on a practice squad deal just after teams finalized their initial 53-man rosters last August. He played in two games and caught one pass in 2023. The Broncos were Dorsett’s seventh NFL team.

Blackson, 31, has been a D-line contributor for nine seasons. With 42 starts on his resume, Blackson has played for five NFL teams (Titans, Texans, Cardinals, Bears, Jaguars). He joined the Jaguars late last summer and played 11 games as a backup. Since signing Blackson in April, the Broncos received word of Eyioma Uwazurike‘s reinstatement from a gambling suspension. The team also traded for John Franklin-Myers since signing Blackson, who would stand to generate some interest as a late-summer free agent.

Broncos To Move On From WR Tim Patrick

August 26th, 2024 at 4:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

In addition to running back Samaje Perine, Tim Patrick is no longer in the Broncos’ offensive plans. The veteran receiver will be released if no trade agreement can be worked out, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Denver is looking to find a trade partner for Patrick, which comes as little surprise. He had struggled with season-ending injuries over the past two summers, however, a factor which should limit interest showed by outside teams. The Broncos’ depth at wideout will lead to Patrick finding a new home in any case.

Patrick, 30, missed the Broncos’ entire Russell Wilson era. He suffered a torn ACL during training camp in 2022 and went down with an Achilles tear last summer. The resilient veteran returned, however, and took a substantial pay cut to stay in Denver. The Broncos used him frequently in their second preseason game, showcasing the recovered pass catcher. Patrick worked as a Bo Nix underneath target against the Packers and scored a touchdown. But the team has made some moves since Patrick was last healthy entering a season.

Part of the Broncos’ Courtland Sutton– and Jerry Jeudy-fronted receiving corps for years, Patrick eclipsed 700 receiving yards by working as a reliable option in an injury-prone position group. Patrick ironically became the most injury-prone of this contingent, and Payton has since traded Jeudy and added other auxiliary options. The Broncos traded up for Marvin Mims in last year’s second round, and they signed Josh Reynolds (two years, $9MM) this offseason. Denver also used fourth- and seventh-round picks on receivers in this draft. Troy Franklin, a Nix college teammate, fell to Round 4; seventh-rounder Devaughn Vele also impressed during camp.

Patrick did well to sign an extension (three years, $30MM) before his injury trouble began. The longest-tenured member of the Broncos’ skill-position corps, Patrick arrived as a practice squad performer during John Elway‘s GM tenure and signed the extension during George Paton‘s first GM year. Paton remains, but Sean Payton effectively calls the shots now in Denver. Only Sutton remains as a Denver receiver acquired before the HC’s arrival.

It would cost the Broncos $6.1MM in dead money — spread over two years — to trade Patrick. The team will only save $1.1MM by making the move. This ratio, and Patrick’s potential to help Nix, illustrates the team’s current optimism surrounding its young receiving corps. It will be interesting to see if a team bites on the veteran following his two missed seasons. An acquiring team would only be tied to a $1.1MM base salary.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Broncos, RB Samaje Perine To Part Ways; Team Engaged In Trade Talks

August 26th, 2024 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Samaje Perine will not return to the Broncos. The team added multiple backs this offseason, and its primary passing-down option from 2023 is no longer part of the plan.

While it may come down to Denver releasing Perine, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the team is engaged in talks around a trade. It looks like the Broncos will try to collect an asset for the veteran back, who made notable contributions as an outlet option behind Javonte Williams last season.

Denver gave Perine a two-year, $7.5MM deal in 2023, and the former Bengals backup played behind Williams while operating as a key Russell Wilson target. But the team drafted Audric Estime in Round 5 this year. UDFA Blake Watson also drew attention this summer. Estime, Williams and 2023 UDFA standout Jaleel McLaughlin are almost definitely Denver’s top three backs, with Watson a potential practice squad option. With Sean Payton indicating the team is keeping its three quarterbacks, at least one extra cut is coming somewhere.

The Bengals have come up as a rumored trade suitor at multiple junctures this year. The team moved on from Joe Mixon, whom Perine backed up for three-plus seasons, and has Chase Brown and UFA addition Zack Moss atop its depth chart. Perine would stand to fall back in as a passing-down option, if Cincinnati is indeed interested in reacquiring him.

Perine will turn 29 next month, but his lighter career workload (605 touches) has kept him a viable option. He should land somewhere soon. The former Washington draftee totaled a career-high 455 receiving yards last season, which featured some key late-game work as a low-wattage Broncos offense strung together multiple game-winning drives during a five-game win streak. But Perine entered camp competing for a job. Williams fared better this summer and is locked into a gig in his contract year.

The Broncos have until 3pm CT Tuesday to move Perine, who is a vested veteran and would bypass the waiver process. The Bengals could opt to wait on that rather than part with an asset, but it would depend on if any other suitors are out there.

Broncos To Waive P Trenton Gill

August 26th, 2024 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trenton Gill impressed in the Broncos’ punter-friendly confines, but he did not do enough to win the team’s punting competition. Riley Dixon has prevailed, which will lead to a roster move.

Denver is waiving Gill, according to 9News’ Mike Klis. The Broncos become the second team this year to cut Gill. The Bears did so after drafting Tory Taylor in the fourth round.

The Bears’ punter from 2022-23, Gill fared well during the preseason. He led the NFL with a 53.6-yard preseason average, but the Broncos will hold onto Dixon’s two-year contract. Dixon did not have any guarantees remaining on his deal; it would have cost the Broncos only $300K to release the more experienced option.

Dixon, who turned 31 on Saturday, was part of the Broncos’ 2016 draft class but was eventually traded to the Giants to clear a spot for Marquette King. The King deal did not lead to a long-term partnership, and the Broncos could not settle on a punter in the years that followed. Dixon punted for the Giants for four years and then served as the Rams’ punter in 2022, eventually coming back to Denver during Sean Payton‘s first season at the helm.

Gill averaged more than 46 yards per punt in each of his two Bears seasons; Dixon came in at 46.3 last season. Gill placed 26.3% of his punts inside the 20-yard line last year, while Dixon’s inside-the-20 number checked in at 34.2%. Gill is not yet a vested veteran, so a team considering a punter move could look to the former Chicago seventh-round pick via waivers.

Load More Posts