Arvada native Max Borghi was among five Broncos players cut Tuesday ahead of the NFL deadline to reduce the roster from 90 to 85.
Borghi, who graduated from Pomona High and played at Washington State, was signed after camp opened when running back Damarea Crockett sustained a torn ACL. Borghi carried four times for 10 yards in last week’s preseason win over Dallas.
Also cut were second-year safety Jamar Johnson, rookie receiver Kaden Davis, veteran receiver Travis Fulgham and rookie tight end Rodney Williams.
Borghi’s release leaves the Broncos with three backup tailbacks to get through the final two preseason games: Mike Boone, Stevie Scott and JaQuan Hardy.
Johnson was a fifth-round pick last year and played in three games as a rookie. He became expendable with the drafting of Delarrin Turner-Yell and signing of free agent J.R. Reed.
The release of Fulgham and Davis leaves the Broncos with 11 receivers on the roster.
Before the roster moves were announced, coach Nathaniel Hackett said he would meet with every released player.
“First and foremost, it (stinks),” he said. “These guys have been busting their (tail) and they’re a part of our group and our family and we appreciate everything those guys have done.”
The next roster cutdown is to 80 players next Tuesday.
Attrition at center. Starting center Lloyd Cushenberry missed his first practice of training camp.
“Just resting him and make sure he’s good,” Hackett said.
Rookie second-team center Luke Wattenberg sustained an ankle injury in the Dallas game and Hackett said he is day-to-day.
Minus Cushenberry and Wattenberg, Graham Glasgow took the first-team center snaps in practice.
Glasgow has worked at guard and center throughout training camp and in the win over Dallas.
“The biggest step he took was in the game,” Hackett said. “I thought he played really, really well in the game and he’s just progressively gotten better. The more he gets comfortable with coming back from his (leg) injury (sustained last November), the better he’ll get and that’s great because he has a lot of flexibility.”
Also not practicing were tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring), cornerback Ronald Darby (chest), inside linebacker Jonas Griffith (elbow) and receivers KJ Hamler (knee) and Tyrie Cleveland (throat).
Outside linebacker Randy Gregory (shoulder) and right tackle Billy Turner (knee), activated from the physically unable to perform list Monday, did individual work for the second consecutive day.
Anti-preseason. After pouring rain around 10 a.m. sent the practice inside, Hackett put the Broncos through a full pads workout.
“Sometimes the rain takes away from the things you can accomplish on the field so I wanted to be sure we got great work and the guys did an excellent job,” Hackett said.
Hackett was asked about playing the starters in the preseason.
“You know me, I don’t like the preseason,” he said. “That’s just my philosophy and upbringing, just seeing all the different things I’ve seen in the past. There’s always that risk-reward. I think we would all sit here and say, ‘Sure, we want the guys to go out there and do good and get reps,’ but in the end, we want to be smart with the guys. It’s a 17-game season.”
Reading between the lines, it sure looks like Hackett won’t play his starters until Week 1 at Seattle.
