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Oliver Jervis

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 Place OL Quinn Bailey On IR

August 1st, 2024 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 1: Bailey is indeed out for the year. He was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. His attention will now turn to rehab ahead of free agency next March. Rookie O-lineman Oliver Jervis was signed in a corresponding move.

JULY 31: Cameron Fleming worked as the Broncos’ swing tackle over the past two seasons, but the team did not re-sign the veteran in 2024. This left Quinn Bailey as a player vying for that role; he entered camp continuing to battle for a backup role he has held for multiple seasons. But the sixth-year Bronco saw that pursuit come to a likely end Wednesday.

Sean Payton said it “looks like” Bailey sustained a fractured ankle during practice, via 9News’ Mike Klis, who adds the veteran backup’s right leg was immobilized with an air cast. Bailey, 28, re-signed with the Broncos — on a one-year, $1.1MM deal with no guarantees — in March.

The Arizona State alum is set to undergo surgery, Klis adds. Fleming, 31, remains a free agent. Bailey is one of the Broncos’ longest-tenured players. He is among only five — along with Garett Bolles, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Justin Strnad — left over from John Elway‘s GM tenure.

A former UDFA, Bailey started a game apiece over the past two seasons. The Broncos enjoyed good health along their offensive line last season but needed Fleming extensively in 2022. Bailey worked as a swing backup more that season, playing 132 offensive snaps. Many of those came at left guard, but the Broncos will be needing to look elsewhere on their roster for swing work.

Denver added Matt Peart on a one-year deal in March as well, and ex-Payton Saints charge Calvin Throckmorton also joined some of his former teammates in Denver. For interior depth, the team could turn to one of the losers of the center competition, which is primarily being waged between 2022 fifth-round pick Luke Wattenberg and 2023 seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth.