HEADLINES

Matt Henningsen

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:

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 Sign Second-Round LB Nik Bonitto

May 11th, 2022 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The final pick of this year’s second round is under contract. Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto agreed to terms on his four-year Broncos deal Wednesday, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

This move comes in advance of the Broncos’ rookie minicamp, which begins Thursday. Bonitto was Denver’s highest draft pick this year, after the team traded its first- and second-round choices as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal. The No. 64 overall selection will attempt to contribute to Denver’s pass rush early.

Denver did not necessarily need an edge rusher early in this draft, having added Randy Gregory to a stable that includes Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb and frequent fill-in starter Malik Reed. But the latter two are entering contract years. Gregory is also rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery. The Broncos, despite being thinner at inside linebacker, are also trying 2021 third-rounder Baron Browning as an edge player this offseason.

One of the quicker edges to enter the draft in recent years, Bonitto combined for 16 sacks between the 2020 and ’21 seasons. The 248-pound linebacker, who clocked a 4.54-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, also finished with 26.5 tackles for loss between his sophomore and junior years. Coming to the Broncos via the second-round pick obtained in the Von Miller trade, Bonitto represents a lower-cost successor of sorts to the future Hall of Famer.

The Broncos also signed sixth-round defensive lineman Matt Henningsen and seventh-round cornerback Faion Hicks, per the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran and Klis (Twitter links). Both Day 3 picks are Wisconsin alums.