The Denver Broncos announced the team’s first round of cuts on Monday, sending ten players into NFL purgatory as they await offers from other clubs or potential practice squad offers. Denver must have its roster down to 75 players by Sept. 1.
The most notable player waived Monday was quarterback Zac Dysert, a seventh round pick who spent the 2013 season as the third-string quarterback before moving to the practice squad in 2014. Dysert maintains practice squad eligibility, but his being waived sets up 2015 seventh-round draft pick Trevor Siemian as the new No. 3 quarterback heading into the final preseason game on Thursday. If head coach Gary Kubiak elects to carry only two quarterbacks on the active roster, that could mean Siemian will find himself on the practice squad and Dysert would be out of a job.
Dysert saw action in just one preseason game this year, going 2-for-5 for 14 yards against Seattle. In three possessions, he could not generate even a first down – the only one earned during his time on field came as result of a penalty.
Siemian, meanwhile, played in both the Seattle and the Houston game, leading Denver to fourth-quarter scores in each game, including a go-ahead touchdown against the Texans inside of 2:00.
Adam Kinney, host of BSN Denver Sports Desk on Mile High Sports AM 1340, was surprised that Dysert was cut in advance of the final 53-man roster deadline on Sept. 5. Kinney expected Dysert and Siemian to battle for the No. 3 spot in Thursday’s preseason finale against Arizona. Now that that won’t happen, Kinney says Broncos fans can expect to see Siemian on the 53-man roster.
Among the other nine cuts announced on Monday, Kinney and co-host Josh Dover were most disappointed to see fullback Joe Don Duncan among those players waived. Duncan, in their estimation, stood the best chance of being the player to continue Denver’s streak of an undrafted player making the final roster – one that has stretched 11 years now. They both believe, however, that Duncan will find his way on to the practice squad.
Listen to the full discussion about Dysert and Siemian, as well as the complete list of players who were cut on Monday, in the podcast below…
Listen to BSN Denver Sports Desk every weekday from 9a-11a on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or Listen Live any time online for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.
