David Bruton Released by Redskins: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran safety David Bruton's tenure with the Washington Redskins came to an early end on Friday after the team announced on Friday that it released him. 

The 29-year-old appeared in just four games this season after signing a three-year, $9.15 million contract prior to the start of 2016, via Spotrac. 

Bruton had been the starting safety for Washington at the beginning of the season, but a concussion during Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns derailed his season. He was placed on injured reserve, where he remained until his release. He recorded 27 total tackles, one sack and two passes defended during the short span he played this season.

Bruton had spent the first seven years of his career with the Denver Broncos, where he was used mostly as a reserve safety. He only started eight games of a possible 104 that he appeared in, which is just two times the amount of starts he got in Washington. 

His absence in 2016 prompted the Redskins to sign veteran Donte Whitner, who has started five of seven games while racking up 44 total tackles. 

Washington's passing defense has been pedestrian at best this season, ranking 16th in the league in passing yards allowed and will continue to rely on Whitner. 

But the Redskins secondary is also facing the possibility of being without No. 2 corner Bashaud Breeland, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury. At 6-4-1 while chasing the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in the NFC East, the Redskins can't afford any more losses within the secondary. 

For Bruton, priority No. 1 will be getting back healthy while using his small sample size as the Redskins' starter to try to catch on elsewhere in the league next year. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.