Rookie the NFL forgot to draft receives great news after Broncos make surprise roster cut saying goodbye to promising young player
The Denver Broncos have been busy in an attempt to cut down their roster from 90 to 53 players ahead of the 2 p.m. MT deadline on Aug. 26. With that, plenty of players will find new homes, and some surprises are for sure in store. Broncos Country didn't have to wait long for those surprises, as it was announced that the team would be waiving linebacker Jordan Turner in a rather shocking move.
Turner had spent most of the preseason working with the ones on defense, with Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton being injured , which allowed him to step up for the defense in their absence. With Turner being cut, many have reported that it means fellow undrafted rookie Karene Reid will make the official 53-man roster. A bittersweet moment for the fan base.
Turner and Reid's performance in preseason
Through three preseason games, Turner was on the field for 64 defensive snaps (21 on rush defense, 10 as a pass rusher, and 33 dropping back into coverage). With his increased usage, he was able to amass five total pressures coming from two sacks, two quarterback hits, and one hurry. He was able to add six stops as well. A stop, as measured by Pro Football Focus, is when an offensive gain on first down is kept to under 40 percent, less than 40 percent on second down, and any third or fourth down play without a first down or a touchdown. For hurries, these are explained as a disruption that forces an early throw or moves the quarterback from their intended spot. While he was a disruption, dropping back in coverage told a different story as his assignment was targeted four times throughout the preseason, which resulted in four catches. He added five tackles, three assisted tackles, and missed on two tackles.
Coming out of Michigan State, the undrafted rookie landed in Denver among several other undrafted free agents. The team could still bring him on the practice squad if he clears waivers. However, this does spell some good news for fellow undrafted rookie Karene Reid. While unconfirmed, if Reid were able to crack the 53-man roster, it would make it so that the Broncos have had an undrafted rookie on their initial 53-man roster 21 of the last 22 years.
Reid, throughout three preseason games, was on the field for 70 defensive snaps (17 on rush defense, 19 as a pass rusher, and 34 dropping back into coverage). He finished with six total pressures coming from two quarterback hits and four hurries. Adding seven tackles, two assisted tackles, and a missed tackle. While being targeted twice, he allowed two receptions for one yard while also adding an interception to boot.
It's sad to see Turner leave, and fans and the front office alike could be hoping to bring him back on the practice squad. For Reid, it's an exciting time where all of his hard work appears to have paid off. Roster cutdowns are always difficult. These men spend their lives working on their craft, and plenty of players are going to be looking for new jobs. Hoping nothing but the best for Turner.
