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Kyle Peko opts out; Zimari Manning waived as Broncos cut roster to 80

Broncos also placed offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson, Netane Muti on active injured list.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos defensive tackle Kyle Peko has decided to opt-out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns.

At this point last year, Peko had left the Buffalo Bills’ training camp to be with his wife Giuliana who was battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The couple later said she was cancer-free.

It’s to be determined whether Peko will be granted a “high risk” $350,000 stipend because of his wife’s previous battle with cancer, or the $150,000 “voluntary” stipend, although Broncos’ general manager John Elway indicated Peko had a pre-existing medical condition so the higher amount would apply.

The Broncos also waived undrafted rookie receiver Zimari Manning with a non-football-related injury and moved two offensive linemen, veteran tackle Elijah Wilkinson and rookie guard Netane Muti, to the active injured lists.

Along with their eight player cuts Monday, the Broncos reduced their roster from 90 to 80.

Peko, who recently celebrated his 27th birthday, is in his second stint with Broncos. He was an undrafted college free agent out of Oregon State in 2016 and played parts of two seasons with the Broncos.

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Peko spent time with Buffalo and Indianapolis in 2018-19 before returning to Denver last December.

Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Kyle Peko on Aug. 4, 2019.

A younger cousin of former Broncos’ nose tackle Domata Peko, Kyle was considered a longshot to make the Broncos’ roster this season as six defensive front spots are already allotted to Jurrell Casey, Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell, Dre’Mont Jones, Christian Covington and rookie McTelvin Agim.

After cutting 8 players Monday, the Broncos' roster is now at 81. They will need to move one more player by the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday.

RELATED: Broncos trim 8 players from roster ahead of training camp

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