Broncos' Sean Payton calls roster decisions 'difficult' at receiver, knew some players would end up elsewhere

ENGLEWOOD – Sean Payton said earlier this month the Broncos were so deep at the position that some wide receivers on the roster would end up with other teams.

He was right.

After the Broncos set their 53-man roster Tuesday and all but one player on their 17-man practice squad Wednesday, they had eight receivers still around. But three receivers cut Tuesday landed on other practice squads Wednesday.

Veteran Tim Patrick ended up with Detroit, Brandon Johnson with Pittsburgh and Jalen Virgil with Buffalo.

“I knew and felt that we were deep (at receiver),’’ Payton, Denver’s head coach, said Wednesday after a practice at Broncos Park. “A number of guys landed in different places. … I think we knew that was going to be difficult (sorting out the receivers).”

The Broncos elected to keep Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims and rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele on the 53-man roster. They signed Lil’Jordan Humphrey, David Sills and Michael Bandy to the practice squad after they had been cut Tuesday.

General manager George Paton said Tuesday it was a hard decision letting go of Patrick, who had been with the Broncos since 2018 and missed the past two seasons with injuries. Payton echoed that.

“That obviously was extremely difficult,’’ said Payton, speaking for the first time since roster moves were made. “The other night in that (Aug. 18) preseason game against Green Bay, he made some plays. I’ve watched his progress. … I sent him a text (Wednesday) when I found out he was going to Detroit.”

The Denver Gazette had reported Tuesday that Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton, who are vested veterans and didn’t have to go through waivers, would join the Broncos’ practice squad and likely both be elevated for the Sept. 8 opener at Seattle. Both had previously played for Payton in New Orleans and were with the Broncos last season.

The Broncos also extended practice squad invitations to Johnson and Virgil, but both opted to go elsewhere. Sources said the Broncos badly wanted Virgil and he had a tough decision but believed Buffalo would provide a better opportunity to make a 53-man roster.

Johnson, who caught two passes for 83 yards in last Sunday’s preseason finale against Arizona, and Virgil are both deep threats. However, Payton insisted that among the Broncos’ eight receivers, there is that kind of depth.

“We have plenty of speed,’’ Payton said. "Mims can get down the field. Reynolds, Franklin (also can). Sills had a great camp.”

Payton said the Broncos wanted to sign tackle Demontrey Jacobs to the practice squad after he was waived Tuesday, but he was claimed by New England for its 53-man roster. A source said defensive lineman Elijah Garcia, also waived Tuesday, got an invitation for Denver’s practice squad, but he elected to join the New York Giants’ squad.

“Part of the challenge is roster management and trying to think, ‘How do I have my cake and eat it, too?’’ Payton said of trying to keep as many desired players as possible on the 53-man roster and practice squad.

Payton said, “it was going to be hard” to get undrafted rookie Blake Watson “through waivers,’’ so Denver kept a fourth running back. Payton called Watson a “developmental running back” who “is strong in traffic.”

“When I saw (Watson’s) top speed was like 22, 23 miles per hour, that really caught my eye,’’ said starting running back Javonte Williams, saying that the rookie has been getting better each week.

The Broncos’ other two running backs on the 53-man roster are Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. They released Samaje Perine, who will join rival Kansas City’s 53-man roster, and is in line to face Denver twice this season.

“It all stings when they go on. … You root for them,’’ Payton said about players who join other teams. “I want them to do well. Now not against us.”

The Broncos kept three undrafted rookies in Watson, tackle Frank Crum and linebacker Levelle Bailey. Payton said the Broncos are “real encouraged with” and really like the “size and upside” of the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Crum, who played at Wyoming.

“He knows how to play football,’’ Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton said of Bailey, saying he likely wasn’t drafted due to not having great speed. “I’m really excited for him, I told him.”

Payton had mentioned during training camp Bailey being in the mix for a starting job, which eventually went to Cody Barton.

Another battle the Broncos had was at punter, with Riley Dixon winning it over Trenton Gill, who was waived Tuesday. Then again, Payton said that wasn’t much of a competition.

“We ‘ve had a lot of battles,’’ Payton said. “I don’t know that one was that close.”

Payton, though, didn’t deny that the competition was close at wide receiver. He called it “one of the tougher position groups” when it came to making final decisions.