According to Denver Broncos insider Mike Klis, linebacker Shane Ray and safety Su’a Cravens are both expected to be healthy scratches Saturday night. With the season on the line, the decision to bench these two indicates that significant roster changes are coming in the near future.
Cravens’ struggles have been evident from the start and after yet another poor performance in last Sunday’s loss to San Francisco, it is not shocking that Vance Joseph has elected to keep him off the active roster.
Ray is a little more surprising though. When healthy, the former first round pick has shown the ability to rush the quarterback in the past. But, since recording eight sacks in 2016, Ray only has two sacks and five hits on the quarterback in his last 19 games.
Considering Ray is scheduled to a free agent this offseason and Shaq Barrett is currently battling a hip injury, the fact that Ray is not valued enough for a roster spot against the Cleveland Browns, is a pretty telling sign of his future in the orange and blue.
The team already declined to pick up his fifth year and after being passed over for an undrafted free agent Saturday night, there is a strong chance that No. 56 has played his last game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.
