Jammie Kirlew dives for a football in the mud before practice Aug. 5. (PHOTO: MAXDENVER.COM)
The Broncos didn’t wait to get started on their cuts.
Seven players were waived Friday afternoon — including four rookies: wide receiver Alric Arnett, guard Paul Duncan, linebacker Jammie Kirlew and tight end Nathan Overbay. The Broncos also waived nose tackle Chris Baker, tight end Kory Sperry and linebacker Johnny Williams.
Of the seven, the most prominent name is Kirlew, who became the first of the Broncos’ 2010 draft picks to be waived.
Early in training camp, his stock appeared to be rising, particularly as the Broncos looked for pass-rush options after injuries to Elvis Dumervil and Jarvis Moss. But undrafted rookie outside linebacker Kevin Alexander out-played him and assumed a more prominent role — even receiving a first-team snap at Cincinnati when Robert Ayers took a one-play break after being whistled for a personal foul.
The recent signing of Jason Hunter — a converted defensive end who started at outside linebacker Thursday in Minnesota — may have also helped make Kirlew redundant on the 53-man roster.
Overbay and Sperry’s releases also appear to clear up the picture at tight end, where Richard Quinn returned Thursday after missing nearly three weeks with an ankle injury. The Broncos have four tight ends, and two — rookie Riar Geer and ’09 practice-squad member Marquez Branson — have never played in the regular season.
The Broncos now have 65 players on their active roster and must divest themselves of 12 more by the 4 p.m. MDT deadline Saturday.
They must also decide whether to place linebacker Darrell Reid on the regular-season physically-unable-to-perform list, which would mean he could not play for at least six weeks. Reid has not practiced this year.
