Saturday could be the final game in orange and blue for a lot of Broncos
Jan 5, 2022, 1:54 PM | Updated: 3:00 pm
While all the talk this week has centered around whether or not Saturday’s game against the Chiefs will be Vic Fangio’s final one with the Broncos, the head coach isn’t the only one who might be donning orange and blue for the last time. Several players are in the same boat.
Currently, Denver has 17 players on their roster who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Any and all could be elsewhere next season. In addition, the Broncos have 10 restricted free agents heading into the offseason.
Among the 27 players are some big names. Saturday could be the last time Broncos Country gets to cheer them on. At least most of them.
On Wednesday, the team announced that Teddy Bridgewater and Kareem Jackson had been placed on injured reserve. They won’t play against the Chiefs. Both are unrestricted free agents, so their careers with the Broncos are likely over.
Bridgewater earned the starting quarterback job in training camp, but the season didn’t go as planned. Despite playing one of the easiest schedules in the league, he was only able to compile a 7-7 record before being sidelined for the season with a concussion against the Bengals.
Jackson was released last offseason, but then brought back on at a reduced salary. With the emergence of rookie Caden Sterns, it’s unlikely that the hard-hitting safety will be back for a fourth season in Denver.
They aren’t the only familiar names on the list, however. There are many others.
Melvin Gordon was signed prior to the 2020 season to become the Broncos No. 1 running back. That unseated Phillip Lindsay, which upset a lot of fans. This year, he’s shared time with Javonte Williams, a rookie who looks poised to become Denver’s workhorse back.
Kyle Fuller was brought in to bolster the Broncos secondary. He had ties to Vic Fangio during their time together in Chicago, but the cornerback wasn’t able to reach his previous level of play. Pat Surtain ultimately took his spot in the lineup, as the rookie was ready to go from the jump.
Bryce Callahan is another cornerback who could be playing his final game as a Bronco. He was signed prior to the 2019 season and has had three injury-plagued seasons in Denver.
Josey Jewell entered the season as a starter, but was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle in September. During his four years in Denver, the inside linebacker has started 30 games.
Alexander Johnson began the season starting alongside Jewell. Oddly, he was lost for the season in October with the same injury as his fellow inside linebacker. He emerged as a starter five games into the 2019 season, a spot he held until getting hurt six games into the 2021 campaign.
Other familiar names who could be done in Denver after Sunday include offensive tackles Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming, newcomers Stephen Weatherly and Kenny Young on defense, and tight end Eric Saubert. All are unrestricted free agents.
Malik Reed is the headliner among the restricted free agents, but the Broncos will likely retain the outside linebacker. The same can probably be said for Calvin Anderson, who has the inside track to be Denver’s starting right tackle in 2022. Kick and punt returner Diontae Spencer and quarterback Brett Rypien are also restricted free agents; their return is less sure at this point.
That’s a lot of players who fans have become accustomed to watching on a weekly basis. Many could be playing their final game in orange and blue on Saturday.
