ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jalen Virgil keeps the Broncos’ undrafted rookie run going. The receiver had the speed to extend the run to 18 of the past 19 years an undrafted rookie has made the Broncos’ season-opening roster.
"I think you need speed in this league,'' Broncos general manager George Patson said at his 53-man roster press conference Tuesday afternoon. "Virgil obviously provides that. This guy, every game he made plays. And he made plays every practice. He can cover kicks.
"He's an interesting guy. He can return kicks. Really good returner in college (Appalacian State). He just answered every test and aced it. And he's got legit speed. He can take the top off."
The Broncos also managed to save a receiver spot for Tyrie Cleveland, who special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes badly wanted as a core player for his units. Cleveland essentially missed all of training camp and the preseason after he a helmet banged into his throat.
All the 2022 drafted rookies save one made the season-opening roster. The rooks who made it: Second round outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, third round tight end Greg Dulcich, fourth-round corner Damarri Mathis and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike; fifth round safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, returner/receiver Montrell Washington and guard-center Luke Wattenberg; and sixth-round defensive linemen Matt Henningsen.
The only draft pick waived was seventh-round cornerback Faion Hicks.
Two veterans – defensive tackle Mike Purcell and tight end Eric Tomlinson – were released for procedural reasons and will be signed back onto the 53-man roster Wednesday. The Broncos needed to keep rookie tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring) and third-year cornerback Michael Ojemudia (elbow) on their 53-man roster Tuesday because had they been placed on injured reserve (IR) they would have been done for the season. Dulcich and Ojemudia will be placed on short-term IR on Wednesday, which will mean only missing four games.
Dulcich's hamstring injury that will essentially sideline him four months is especially maddening.
"Hamstrings are strange,'' Paton said. "He was really close to coming back and he tweaked it. I wouldn't call it a setback but he just can't get over that hump.
"He thinks he can probably be ready maybe in a week or two but I've said this a number of times, we want to protect him from himself and so we're going to take the conservative route which we like to do with these type of injuries and he's going to help us win a lot of football games this year."
Dulcich and Ojemudia will have their roster spots filled by Purcell and Tomlinson – who were picked because as veterans they are not subject to waivers -- on Wednesday.
"Purcell and Tomlinson are a big part of what we're doing,'' Paton said. "Mike is one of our core guys. They're going to be here. They're doing a favor for the team. They're taking one of the team."
Purcell will sign a new contract Wednesday that will pay him the $3.57 million he was scheduled to make while Tomlinson will re-sign for the $1.435 million. For Purcell, he can add to his inspirational story of perseverence as he has now officially been cut 11 times in his career.
The Broncos started the day with a 74-man roster. Here are their 21 roster moves:
Released
Josh Johnson, QB
Mike Purcell, DT*
Eric Tomlinson, TE*
Waived
McTelvin Agim, DL
Quinn Bailey, OL
Jonathan Harris, DL
Faion Hicks, CB
Kendall Hinton, WR
Zack Johnson, OL
Jonathan Kongbo, OLB
Kana’i Maugua, ILB
Ja’Quan McMillian, CB
Netane Muti, G
Michael Niese, OL
Devine Ozigbo, RB
Dylan Parham, TE
J.R. Reed, S
Darrius Shepherd, WR
Seth Williams, WR
Injured reserve
Brandon Johnson, WR
Traded
Malik Reed, OLB
*Purcell and Tomlinson will return to roster on Wednesday.
"This is tough. This is a really good group of players were releasing,'' Broncos' general manager George Paton said at the 53-man roster press conference Tuesday afternoon. "We're going to try to get a lot of these players back on our practice squad. We realize we'll probably lose a few to other teams. We've got a long time ahead of us."
He referred to his personnel department watching preseason tape of those targeted from the roughly 800 players on the waiver wire that expires at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Here is the Broncos’ 53-man roster:
OFFENSE (24)
Quarterback (2): Russell Wilson, Brett Rypien
Running back (3): Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone
Fullback (1): Andrew Beck
Tight end (3): Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich*, Eric Tomlinson*, Eric Saubert
Dulcich is on roster Tuesday, but will move to short-term IR on Wednesday and Tomlinson, who was technically released Tuesday, will return to roster.
Receivers (6): Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Montrell Washington, Tyrie Cleveland, Jalen Virgil
Offensive line (9): Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Quinn Meinerz, Billy Turner*, Calvin Anderson*, Graham Glasgow, Cam Fleming*, Luke Wattenberg.
*Broncos keep three right tackles as insurance to projected starter Billy Turner's continued recovery from knee surgery.
Special teams (3)
Kicker (1): Brandon McManus
Punter (1): Corliss Waitman
Long snapper (1): Jacob Bobenmoyer
DEFENSE (26)
Defensive line (5): Dre’Mont Jones, D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell*, DeShawn Williams, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen
Purcell was technically released but will re-sign Wednesday once cornerback Michael Ojemudia reverts to short-term IR.
Outside linebackers (6): Randy Gregory, Bradley Chubb, Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, Aaron Patrick.
Inside linebackers (4): Josey Jewell, Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad
Cornerbacks (6): Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis, Michael Ojemudia*, Essang Bassey.
Ojemudia expected to be placed on short-term IR on Wednesday.
Safeties (5): Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell
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