Brandon Johnson, Jonas Griffith, Matt Henningsen among those cut as Broncos go with youth

To be a veteran on the Broncos' roster and to have joined the team before Sean Payton arrived has not necessarily been a good thing.

The Broncos made cuts Tuesday to get down to the initial 53-man roster and a number of seasoned players were let go.

Notable players dispatched were wide receiver Brandon Johnson, defensive lineman Matt Henningsen and linebacker Jonas Griffith, who all were on the team before Payton was hired as head coach in 2023. And wide receiver Tim Patrick, who had been with the Broncos since 2018, was officially released after a source had said Monday that would happen if no trade could be arranged. Patrick reportedly will join Detroit's practice squad.

Veterans released who were brought in by Payton included fullback Michael Burton, 32, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, 26, and running back Samaje Perine, 28, whom a source said Monday would be let go if a trade couldn’t be found. Sources said Burton and Humphrey are expected to be signed Wednesday to the practice squad, and both have a good chance of being elevated to the active roster for the Sept. 8 opener at Seattle.

The Broncos kept three quarterbacks on the roster in rookie starter Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Payton had said Sunday that would be the case.

As far as a youth movement is concerned, the Broncos held onto six of the seven players they drafted in April, waiving only guard Nick Gargiulo, a seventh-round pick. And three undrafted rookies made the roster in running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey and tackle Frank Crum, who played at Wyoming.

“Sean has said a number of times we’re young and hungry, and that was before the cuts,’’ said general manager George Paton. “But we also have some experience in key areas. We’re just trying to put together our best 53 and win regardless of youth. But it is nice to have some youth.”

Of the 53 players on the active roster, 34 were brought after Payton was hired. Defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, who starred at Air Force and made the roster, actually is not in that group since he was signed a few weeks before Payton’s arrival.

"You see the energy, you see the enthusiasm of these players and that's a reflection of Sean,'' Paton said about Payton reshaping the team with many of his type of players. "(I'm) just excited of what we're building, and just how they work and go about their business. We're getting there. Time will tell. We'll see when we get to the regular season but we certainly like the foundation."

The Broncos on Tuesday also let go of wide receivers Jalen Virgil, Michael Bandy and David Sills, running back Tyler Badie, center Sam Mustipher, tight ends Hunter Kampmoyer and Thomas Yassmin, guards Will Sherman and Calvin Throckmorton, tackle Demontrey Jacobs, defensive linemen Elijah Garcia and Jordan Miller, outside linebackers Thomas Incoom and Dondrea Tillman, defensive backs Quinton Newsome, Reese Taylor and Tanner McCalister and punter Trenton Gill.

A source had said Monday that Gill would be cut after incumbent Riley Dixon won the punting job. Griffith was let go after Cody Barton beat him out to start. And Henningsen was caught in a numbers game with the Broncos electing to keep linemen Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike, who returns after sitting out 2023 due to a suspension for gambling.

The Broncos also placed cornerback Damarri Mathis, who suffered an ankle injury in last Sunday’s preseason finale against Arizona, on short-term injured reserve, meaning the most games he would have to miss is four. They waived outside linebacker Durell Nchami, who hurt his hamstring against the Cardinals, with an injury designation. And they moved linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Dalarrin Turner-Yell (knee) from the active to the reserve physically unable to perform list.

That followed the Broncos on Monday having let go of eight players and sources revealing that Patrick and Perine wouldn’t be on the 53-man roster. Patrick missed the previous two seasons due to injuries.

“Obviously, not an easy one," Paton said of the release of Patrick. "Just on behalf of everyone in organization, I just can’t say enough great things about the player, the person Tim has been. … We have a lot of great respect for Tim, the resiliency, the work ethic, perseverance the last two years to come back from the injuries. … We really liked our depth at receiver. … Special teams comes into play. Obviously, you have the new element of the kickoff return. There will be over 200 more returns.”

There were no surprises of the five receivers Denver did keep in Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims and rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele. A surprise was there was not a sixth, although Humphrey should end up filling that role to start the season. Humphrey was considered to be ahead of Johnson in the pecking order.

Perine’s days were numbered since the Broncos selected fellow big back Audric Estime in the draft. Denver, which also has at running back starter Javonte Williams and top reserve Jaleel McLaughlin, saved $3 million on the salary cap with Perine's release.

"He's going to move on and do well somewhere else,'' Paton said. "Another stacked room (is at running back). It's not just because they're young, we like the talent."

In addition to Nix (first round), Franklin (fourth), Estime (fifth) and Vele (seventh), outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (third) and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (fifth) were draft picks to make the roster.

“We’re encouraged by the rookie class, both the draft picks and the free agents,’’ Paton said. “It’s a credit to our personnel department, our sports performance, with the development of these players. Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season. But we like the class so far.”

Nine rookies overall made the Broncos. That is on the heels of nine rookies making the team in Payton’s first season, although Incoom, who was undrafted in 2023, did not survive Tuesday’s cut.