Denver Broncos Roster 2013: Latest Cuts, Depth Charts and Analysis

The final week of preseason means that teams will start finalizing their rosters and depth charts for Week 1. The Denver Broncos have carried 90 players on their roster all summer, but they have to get that number down to 53 in the coming days.

While the depth chart might not change much for a good team like the Broncos between now and Week 1, the last few roster spots are up still up for grabs. The Broncos may choose to keep their home-grown talent or replace them with a player who is cut by another team.

Here you will find the latest updates and changes the Broncos have made to their roster and depth chart leading up to the Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens.  

List of 53 Man Roster Cuts

The Broncos have announced the moves to get them down to 53, but don't count out additional over the next few days. 

• Lance Ball 
• C.J. Davis 
• Jeremiah Johnson 
• Ryan Lilja 
• Jake O'Connell 
• Jeremy Beal*
• Philip Blake*
• Paul Cornick*
• Romney Fuga*
• Ben Garland*
• Aaron Hester*
• Damien Holmes*
• Tavarres King*
• Vinston Painter*
• Ross Rasner*
• Gerell Robinson*
• Lamaar Thomas*
• John Youboty*

* Denotes eligible for the practice squad.

In addition to the moves made Saturday, the Broncos continued to re-shape the roster with the following cut on Sunday:

• Jacob Hester

Ball was going to have a hard time making the roster at running back and he had a big salary as well. The Broncos still have tough decisions to make at the position including what to do with C.J. Anderson and Jeremiah Johnson. 

Robinson's release clears the way for Tavarris King to make the roster at wide receiver. Strike that, King was also released in a surprise move. Broncos have only five receivers on the roster. 

Philip Blake was a fourth-round pick last year and his fate was sealed when the Broncos went out and signed two centers after J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen were both declared out with injuries. Blake was playing primarily at guard and unfortunately was a waste of a draft pick.

I guess we jumped the gun assuming Ryan Lilja would eventually start at center for the Broncos. His release indicates that Chris Kuper might be getting healthy enough to play as the swing guard and center. 

Final Depth Chart

Here's what the final depth chart looks like after the Broncos cut down to 53 players.

QB: Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert

RB: Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball,  Knowshon Moreno, C.J. Anderson

WR: Demaryius Thomas, Andre Caldwell

WR: Eric Decker, Trindon Holliday

WR: Wes Welker

TE: Joel Dreessen, Jacob Tamme, Julius Thomas, Virgil Green

LT: Ryan Clady, Chris Clark

LG: Zane Beadles, Chris Kuper

C: Manny Ramirez, Steve Vallos

RG: Louis Vasquez, John Moffitt

RT: Orlando Franklin

DE: Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson

DE: Robert Ayers, Shaun Phillips

DT: Kevin Vickerson, Mitch Unrein

NT: Terrance Knighton, Sylvester Williams

WLB: Wesley Woodyard, Danny Trevathan

MLB: Nate Irving, Steven Johnson, Paris Lenon

SLB: Von Miller, Shaun Phillips, Adrian Robinson

CB: Champ Bailey, Tony Carter, Omar Boldin

CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Harris, Kayvon Webster

FS: Rahim Moore, Quentin Jammer, David Bruton

SS: Duke Ihenacho, Mike Adams

KR: Trindon Holliday, Omar Boldin

PR: Trindon Holliday, Wes Welker

K: Matt Prater

P: Britton Colquitt

LS: Aaron Brewer

H: Britton Colquitt

Keeping four tight ends is a bit of a surprise; the Broncos must still think Virgil Green has untapped potential. Green may have made the team because of his play on special teams.

Defensive back Quentin Jammer made the roster, which is a mild surprise considering he is the 11th defensive back to make the roster. He does provide depth at both safety and cornerback. Combined, David Bruton and Jammer are what a team normally gets from one player on the tail of the roster.

The Broncos decided to put both Stewart Bradley and Lerentee McCray on injured reserve, opening up roster spots for Steven Johnson and Paris Lenon. Bradley and McCray will have a chance to make the roster next year. 

Steve Vallos making the roster is a bit of a surprise, even with Ryan Lilja cut. Don't be surprised if the Broncos shuffle some of the offensive line depth in the coming days. 

Previewing & Analyzing the Practice Squad

The Broncos have signed the following players to their practice squad:

• Paul Cornick, OL
• Ben Garland, OG
• Tavarres King, WR
• Vinston Painter, OL
• Gerell Robinson, WR
• John Youboty, DE
• Edwin Baker, RB
• Brandon Marshall, LB

Tavarres King and Gerell Robinson were thought to be battling for a single roster spot at wide receiver, but both passed through waivers unclaimed. King and Robinson are both talents worth developing at wide receiver. 

The big surprise here is running back Edwin Baker, who was waived by the San Diego Chargers last week from their cut from 90 to 75 players. Baker is so deep on a youthful depth chart that he's unlikely to figure into the team's long-term plans.

Brandon Marshall was with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season and should provide the Broncos with additional help at the linebacker position. The sheer volume of linebackers the Broncos have brought in should give us some idea what they think of the depth of the group. 

Recently Cut Free Agents Signed or Rumored to Be Pursuing

The Broncos reported claimed the the following players, which means they have to be added to the 53-man roster.

• Adrian Robinson, OLB

The Broncos were thin at linebacker and Robinson will be a backup pass-rusher and can play special teams. Robinson will have to shine if he's going to stick on the roster once Von Miller returns from suspension. 

Starters and Injury Notes

Training camp is over, but that doesn't mean starting jobs were not won and lost. Obviously some jobs were locked down, but several others were not. Here is what the starters look like going into Week 1.

Starters

QB: Peyton Manning

RB: Ronnie Hillman

WR: Demaryius Thomas

WR: Eric Decker

WR: Wes Welker

TE: Julius Thomas

LT: Ryan Clady

LG: Zane Beadles

C: Manny Ramirez

RG: Louis Vasquez

RT: Orlando Franklin

DE: Derek Wolfe

DE: Robert Ayers

DT: Kevin Vickerson

NT: Terrance Knighton

WLB: Wesley Woodyard

MLB: Nate Irving

SLB: Von Miller/Shaun Phillips

CB: Champ Bailey

CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

FS: Rahim Moore

SS: Duke Ihenacho

KR/PR: Trindon Holliday

K: Matt Prater

P: Britton Colquitt

LS: Aaron Brewer

H: Britton Colquitt

Injury Notes

Chris Kuper, Ankle, Day-to-Day: The Broncos hope Kuper can get healthy enough to be a valuable reserve on the offensive line. 

Joel Dreessen, Knee, Probable for Week 1: The emergence of Julius Thomas at tight end means Dreessen needs to get back soon. Dreesen is an asset as a blocker.

J.D. Walton, Ankle, Out Indefinitely: The Broncos would love to get him back this season, but that's hardly guaranteed at this point.

Champ Bailey, Foot, Questionable for Week 1: The Broncos are hoping Bailey can get back for Week 1, but he hasn't practiced.

Wes Welker, Ankle, Probable for Week 1: The Broncos are being cautious with Welker, but he should be ready to go. 

Derek Wolfe, Neck, Aiming for Week 1: Wolfe becomes a key cog in Denver's defense with Miller suspended. He's hoping to get back for Week 1 after a scary injury against the Seahawks that resulted in a trip to the hospital. 

List of 1st Round of Cuts

Teams have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to cut their rosters from 90 to 75, but the Broncos got a jump on the process by waiving 11 players on Sunday. 

• Quentin Saulsberry, C
• Deangelo Peterson, TE
• Greg Orton, WR
• Quincy McDuffie, WR
• Nigel Malone, CB
• Uona Kaveinga, LB
• Ryan Katz, QB
• Manase Foketi, T
• Mario Butler, CB
• Kemonte' Bateman, WR

No real surprises among the first cuts. Saulsberry was on the practice squad last year. Since the Broncos have a deep roster, some of these players could land on a practice squad for another team. 

The Broncos got down to 75 by placing saftey Quinton Carter on injured reserve and J.D. Walton on the regular season physically-unable-to-perform list.

Depth Chart Post 75 Man Roster Cuts and Previewing 53-Man Roster Cuts

QB: Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert

RB: Montee Ball/Ronnie Hillman/Knowshon Moreno, Jacob Hester, Jeremiah Johnson, C.J. Anderson, Lance Ball

WR: Demaryius Thomas, Andre Caldwell

WR: Eric Decker, Tavarres King, Trindon Holliday, Lamaar Thomas

WR: Wes Welker, Gerell Robinson

TE: Joel Dreessen, Jacob Tamme, Julius Thomas, Virgil Green, Jake O'Connell

LT: Ryan Clady, Chris Clark, Paul Cornick

LG: Zane Beadles, Chris Kuper, C.J. Davis

C: Manny Ramirez, Ryan Lilja, Steve Vallos

RG: Louis Vasquez, John Moffitt, Philip Blake, Ben Garland

RT: Orlando Franklin, Vinston Painter

DE: Derek Wolfe, Malik Jackson, Jeremy Beal, John Youboty

DE: Robert Ayers, Shaun Phillips, Quanterus Smith

DT: Kevin Vickerson, Mitch Unrein, Romney Fuga

NT: Terrance Knighton, Sylvester Williams

WLB: Wesley Woodyard, Danny Trevathan

MLB: Nate Irving, Stewart Bradley, Steven Johnson, Paris Lenon

SLB: Von Miller, Shaun Phillips, Lerentee McCray, Damien Holmes

CB: Champ Bailey, Tony Carter, Omar Boldin

CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Harris, Kayvon Webster, Aaron Hester

FS: Rahim Moore, David Bruton, Quentin Jammer

SS: Duke Ihenacho, Mike Adams, Quinton Carter, Ross Rasner

KR: Trindon Holliday, Omar Boldin

PR: Trindon Holliday, Wes Welker

K: Matt Prater

P: Britton Colquitt

LS: Aaron Brewer

H: Britton Colquitt

The Broncos are still experimenting with ways to deal with Miller's absence for six weeks and injuries in the secondary. The depth chart behind the starters is fluid because the Broncos are willing to move starters around to make sure the best 11 players are on the field. 

Projected Cuts

• Ross Rasner*
• Aaron Hester*
• Damien Holmes*
• Quentin Jammer
• Romney Fuga*
• John Youboty*
• Virgil Green
• Jake O'Connell*
• Lamaar Thomas* 
• Tavarres King*
• Jeremiah Johnson
• C.J. Anderson*
• Lance Ball
• Paul Cornick*
• Steve Vallos
• Philip Blake
• Ben Garland*
• Jeremy Beal*
• Vinston Painter*
• Steven Johnson

*Denotes eligibility for the practice squad

The Broncos will have to cut an additional player or place a player on injured reserve to get down to the 53-man roster.

Jeremiah Johnson used up all his eligibility for the practice squad and Lance Ball was pushed off the roster with the addition of Montee Ball. C.J. Anderson is perhaps the most interesting name on the list, but the Broncos will have a hard time finding the roster space to keep him.

Other interesting names on this list are Philip Blake, Virgil Green and Quentin Jammer. These players are victim to the numbers game and haven't been very impressive this preseason. 

We'll see how the Broncos play it, but linebacker Lerentee McCray could go to injured reserve. If that happens, a roster spot would open up for veteran Paris Lenon or the younger Steven Johnson.