Breaking down the Broncos' initial 53-man roster (2024)

ENGLEWOOD— The Broncos have their initial 53-man roster.

The team made 21 cuts on Tuesday, and six on Monday, completing their roster for the 2022 season. The Broncos kept 24 players on offense, 26 on defense and three on special teams.

"We had a lot of tough decisions," Broncos GM George Paton said Tuesday. "This is a really good group of players we're releasing. ... We're going to try to get a lot of these players back on a practice squad."

The Broncos made several interesting decisions Tuesday, including choosing Brett Rypien over Josh Johnson as their backup quarterback, cutting former 2020 third-round pick defensive lineman McTelvin Agim, keeping undrafted wide receiver Jalen Virgil over other young receivers and trading veteran outside linebacker Malik Reed to the Steelers.

They also released veterans tight end Eric Tomlinson and defensive lineman Mike Purcell, but expect to sign them back onto the roster Wednesday after placing tight end Greg Dulcich and cornerback Michael Ojemudia on the short-term injured reserve. Both Dulcich and Ojemudia are expected to return from injury in Week 5.

"They're taking one for the team," Paton said of Tomlinson and Purcell. "That was just procedural. We have to hold these IR guys until (Wednesday). So Purcell and Tomlinson are a big part of what we're doing."

Paton and the Broncos are sure to make more moves in the coming days, as Paton is always looking to improve his roster. And a handful of the players let go Tuesday will end up on the practice squad. But Paton is happy with how the roster turned out and believes he has a winning football team.

"I feel really good about our 53-man roster. It's very fluid," Paton said. "We'll be up most of the evening seeing if we can upgrade the bottom of our roster or even the top-end of our roster. It's a fluid roster. I feel really good about where we are as a football team.

"I think we're all eager to see this team."

Here's a full breakdown of the Denver Broncos' initial 53-man roster:

OFFENSE (24)

Quarterback (2): Russell Wilson, Brett Rypien

Maybe the most notable cut Tuesday was Josh Johnson, who competed with Brett Rypien for the backup quarterback spot behind Russell Wilson. Paton said the hope is to still sign the 36-year-old Johnson to the practice squad, but Rypien won the competition and will back up Wilson this season.

"It was a really close competition," Paton said. "It really came down to the final game. Both these guys did a lot of really good things. I just think the way that 'Ryp' operated the offense, the way he moved the team, he did some really good things."

Running back (3): Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

No surprise here. The Broncos will have the same three running backs as they did a season ago, with Williams leading the way for the group. It's anticipated that Williams will start for the Broncos and Gordon will split carries. Boone has shown the ability to contribute as well and is a core special teams player.

Wide receiver (6): Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, K.J. Hamler, Montrell Washington, Tyrie Cleveland, Jalen Virgil

Last year, the Broncos only kept five receivers on their initial roster. But after the season-ending ACL injury to Tim Patrick in training camp, Paton wanted to carry an extra receiver. And that lucky receiver is Virgil.

Virgil, who played at Appalachian State before going undrafted, was impressive during training camp and the preseason. He competed with fellow undrafted wide receiver Brandon Johnson, among others, for the final spot. Johnson appeared to have a leg up in the competition before injuring his ankle in the final preseason game. The Broncos hope to still keep Johnson as well, placing him on the injured reserve.

Virgil becomes the 18th undrafted free agent to make the Broncos' initial 53-man roster since 2003.

"I think you need speed in this league and Virgil obviously provides that," Paton said. "This guy—every game he made plays. He made plays every practice. He can cover kicks. ... He's just answered every test and aced it. And he's got legit speed. He can take the top off. We're excited for him."

It's also notable that Cleveland made the team, after missing most of training camp and the entire preseason due to a throat injury. Cleveland is expected to return to practice soon and possibly play Week 1. He will be a core special teamer.

And don't be surprised if Paton attempts to add another receiver to the group. After Jeudy, Sutton and Hamler, the Broncos have little depth at the position.

Tight end (4): Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert, Andrew Beck

The Broncos' tight end room will fluctuate this season. Dulcich will miss at least the first four games of the season with Tomlinson replacing him on the roster Wednesday. And Beck, who primarily plays fullback, will not always suit up on gamedays, depending on the opponent.

Dulcich's return will be key to this group's success. Okwuegbunam has been inconsistent so far, while Saubert, Beck and Tomlinson are all considered more blocking tight ends. Paton is hopeful Dulcich won't be on IR long.

"Hamstrings are strange. He was really close to coming back and then he tweaked it," Paton said. "I wouldn't call it a setback, but he just can't get over that hump. He thinks he could probably be ready in maybe a week or two, but we want to protect him from himself. And so we're going to do that. We're going to take the conservative route."

Offensive line (9): Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Quinn Meinerz, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Graham Glasgow, Luke Wattenberg, Cam Fleming

The only minor surprise along the offensive line was former 2020 sixth-round pick Netane Muti being waived. But it's not that big of a surprise after Muti missed the back half of training camp and the preseason due to a knee injury. The Broncos also have Glasgow and Wattenberg, each of whom can play center or guard.

They also kept both Calvin Anderson and Cam Fleming at tackle, with Turner's health still up in the air. Turner is expected to start at right tackle Week 1, but just returned to practice last week after battling a knee injury.

DEFENSE (26)

Defensive line (5): D.J. Jones, DeShawn Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen

The defensive line will feature two rookies in Uwazurike and Henningsen. Both rookies impressed during the preseason, which helped them earn their spots. It was soon have a boost in Purcell, who will be added to the roster Wednesday.

It could, though, be a spot the Broncos look to add another player.

"I don't think we're thin," Paton said. "We kept six. We like all six. We're hoping to get a few through on the practice squad. We don't think we're thin. We think we're really strong up there."

Outside linebacker/EDGE (6): Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Aaron Patrick

The Malik Reed trade made this a complicated group to predict. The Broncos like their top-end talent in Chubb and Gregory, but both have proven to have injury issues in the past. That's why Paton chose to keep six EDGEs this year instead of five like a year ago.

Browning and Bonitto have both shown flashes of being elite pass rushers, but also still have a ways to go before becoming consistent contributors. Browning, who is only in his second year, is moving from inside to outside linebacker. And Bonitto, who was drafted in the second round this year, was inconsistent in the preseason.

As for Cooper and Patrick, while they will contribute on defense, both will be key special teams players. Especially Patrick, who played 12 games last season.

Inside linebacker (4): Josey Jewell, Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad

This might be the group most in need of an addition from waivers or via trade. While the Broncos are confident in Jewell, they're not sure what they have yet in Griffith, Singleton and Strnad. Griffith is expected to start, but is dealing with an elbow injury and has only started four games in his career. Singleton was signed this offseason, after starting 19 games in three years for the Eagles previously, but has struggled in the preseason. And Strnad was benched last season.

Cornerback (6): Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis, Essang Bassey, Michael Ojemudia

The Broncos have an elite starting cornerback group in Surtain, Darby and Williams. But after that, the group isn't very deep. And with Darby and Williams' injury history, the Broncos might look to add a veteran corner to the room.

"We have a good mix of veteran and younger players," Paton said. "Darby and K'Waun are the veterans, and Pat is really a vet. Then you have this young, talented player in Damarri Mathis, and I think he's ready to go if he has to play. And you have 'Bass' who can do everything."

Safety (5): Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell

The top four safety spots were considered a lock most of training camp and the preseason, with Simmons and Jackson as the starters and Sterns and Locke as the backups. Turner-Yell, who drafted in the fifth round this year, had to beat out Jamar Johnson and J.R. Reed for his spot. His performance in the final preseason game, which included four tackles and one sack, likely gave him the final boost to make the team.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

Longsnapper (1): Jacob Bobenmoyer

Kicker (1): Brandon McManus

Punter (1): Corliss Waitman

The punting battle result was one of the more surprising moves, as veteran Sam Martin was released on Monday. Martin, a nine-year veteran, was beat out by Corliss Waitman, who is going into his second season and has only punted in two NFL games. It was speculated Martin was let go because he wouldn't take a pay cut from his $2.2 million salary. But Paton said Tuesday that wasn't the case. Instead, the Broncos "picked the best punter for us."

"Two really good punters," Paton said. "Sam's been in this league a long, long time. Corliss is something really talented. ... Big leg, lefty, we think he has a unique ability to hang time and directional. He's an athlete. A very good holder.

"I feel really good about Corliss and wish Sam nothing but the best."

WAIVED/RELEASED/TRADED

OLB Malik Reed, QB Josh Johnson, DL Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson, WR Kendall Hinton, WR Seth Williams, DL McTelvin Agim, OL Netane Muti, CB Faion Hicks, CB Ja'Quan McMillan, OLB Jonathan Kongbo, S J.R. Reed, RB Devine Ozigbo, TE Dylan Parham, WR Darrius Shepherd, ILB Kana’i Mauga, DL Jonathan Harris, OL Quinn Bailey, OL Michael Niese, OL Zack Johnson, P Sam Martin, CB Donnie Lewis, CB Bless Austin, LB Jeremiah Gemmel, RB JaQuan Hardy, OL Sebastian Gutierrez