ENGLEWOOD – The Broncos waived cornerback/returner Adam Jones on Tuesday.
To replace the 35-year-old Jones on their 53-man roster, the Broncos will call up a much younger cornerback/returner in Brendan Langley from their practice squad.
“Well, Denver it was good,’’ Jones wrote on his Instagram account after he was cut. “Thanks for the opportunity. On to the next chapter.’’
At his locker last Friday, Jones said he liked Denver although he wished he was playing more. He also said he believed he had two or three more years left in him. That now seems unlikely as his playing time had continuously diminished before he was cut. He only played five defensive snaps in the Broncos’ win against the Chargers on Sunday – and those came only after starting corner Bradley Roby suffered a concussion.
Jones was also replaced as a punt returner by the inexperienced River Cracraft during a pivotal punt catch deep in the Broncos’ own end with less than 2 minutes remaining and the Broncos tailing by 2 points. Cracraft cleanly made the fair catch at the 8 and the Broncos behind quarterback Case Keenum drove down to set up a game-winning field goal by Brandon McManus with no time remaining.
PHOTOS | Adam Jones Through the Years
Jones was in his 12th NFL season. A first-round draft pick by Tennessee in 2005, he became a star known as “Pacman” in his second year as he had three punt returns and an interception return for touchdowns.
However, he ran into legal trouble off the field and was suspended from the entire 2007 season by new commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Jones also sat out the entire 2009 season, but he then played eight more years, from 2010-2017, with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jones was again out of football after last season until the Broncos signed him to a veteran minimum contract of $1.015 million late in the preseason. At the time, the Broncos felt they needed a veteran bridge to their No. 3 cornerback position until Langley and rookie defensive back Isaac Yiadom received further development.
Perhaps regrettably, the Broncos allowed Jones to become the first player to wear No. 24 since Champ Bailey retired after the 2013 season. Bailey did give his permission. Jones was also given the No. 3 cornerback spot ahead of another veteran, Tramaine Brock.
But after Jones suffered a hamstring strain in the Broncos’ second game, he was never the same. He averaged just 2.5 yards per punt return and 21.3 yards on kickoffs. Brock permanently supplanted Jones at No. 3 corner six weeks ago and the Broncos now believe the younger Yiadom and Langley are talent upgrades.
The Broncos' cornerback depth chart is now Chris Harris Jr., Roby, Brock, Yiadom and Langley in that order.
Langley, 24, was one of the Broncos’ two, third-round draft picks last season. Although he has a top-shelf skill set, Langley has been slow to develop the finer techniques of the position. He returned six kickoffs for 183 yards last season for the Broncos and there’s a good chance he will serve in that role for the final six games of this season.
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