Broncos trimmed their roster down to 53 players Tuesday, making dozens of difficult moves as the NFL’s cut-down deadline arrived. Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged the weight of the day after practice.

“Today is cut-down day. There’s always one practice where your numbers are the fewest for every team, and it’s this day because a number of the players that have been waived have to clear waivers,” Payton said. “Tomorrow’s practice, we’ll be able to have hopefully 16 practice squad players in addition to the 53-man roster. It’s always a difficult day and yet, you’re spending time with a lot of different players.”

Payton said the final roster meeting with general manager George Paton stretched to nearly six hours, underscoring how much deeper this year’s team has become compared to when he arrived in Denver two and a half years ago. “It was very evident that we’re deeper,” he said. “I think it was evident in the preseason games as you watched them. When the second wave or the third wave went in, you saw good football.”

The Broncos also placed fullback Michael Burton on season-ending injured reserve following hamstring surgery.

RESERVE/INJURED (1)

• FB Michael Burton (Rutgers, 11th year)

RESERVE/INJURED – DESIGNATED FOR RETURN (1)

• LB Drew Sanders (Arkansas, 3rd year)

RELEASED (5)

• QB Sam Ehlinger (Texas, 4th year)
• S Sam Franklin (Temple, 6th year)
• FB Adam Prentice (South Carolina, 5th year)
• G Calvin Throckmorton (Oregon, 6th year)
• LB Garret Wallow (TCU, 4th year)

WAIVED/INJURED (1)

• DT Kristian Williams (Missouri, rookie)

WAIVED (22)

• ILB Levelle Bailey (Fresno State, 2nd year)
• WR Michael Bandy (San Diego, 4th year)
• T Marques Cox (Kentucky, rookie)
• RB Audric Estime (Notre Dame, 2nd year)
• WR Courtney Jackson (Arkansas State, rookie)
• TE Caleb Lohner (Utah, rookie)
• CB Damarri Mathis (Pittsburgh, 4th year)
• C Joe Michalski (Oklahoma State, rookie)
• NT Jordan Miller (SMU, 1st year)
• OLB Garrett Nelson (Nebraska, 1st year)
• CB Quinton Newsome (Nebraska, 1st year)
• WR Jerjuan Newton (Toledo, rookie)
• WR A.T. Perry (Wake Forest, 3rd year)
• TE Caden Prieskorn (Mississippi, rookie)
• CB Jaden Robinson (Oregon State, rookie)
• WR Kyrese Rowan (Utah State, rookie)
• G Will Sherman (Colorado, 3rd year)
• DB Keidron Smith (Kentucky, 2nd year)
• CB Reese Taylor (Purdue, 2nd year)
• ILB Jordan Turner (Michigan State, rookie)
• S Delarrin Turner-Yell (Oklahoma, 4th year)
• RB Blake Watson (Memphis, 2nd year) – with an injury settlement

The Road Ahead

While Tuesday marked the end of camp for many, Payton reminded players and media that roster decisions remain fluid. NFL rules allow 16 practice squad spots per team, and the Broncos are expected to begin filling those positions quickly.

“The door’s never fully closed or fully open,” Payton said. “So many different occasions where I’ve met with a player, and a month later, two weeks later, the player’s back in the building. That happens.”

Payton and the front office will now turn their attention to building out the practice squad and preparing for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.