The initial 53-man roster for the Denver Broncos is out, and unsurprisingly some players did not make the cut. Among them is a 2026 draft selection.

Justin Joly was the Broncos' 5th round selection at this year's draft. Coming out of North Carolina State, the rookie registered 11 touchdowns and 1150 yards for the Wolfpack in two seasons.

As for his short-lived time with the Broncos, Joly's preseason saw him record one touchdown and 105 yards. So why did Payton and the Broncos decide to waive him?

Well, according to GM George Patton, they still believe Joly will have a great career, but they just didn't get to see enough of him in the off-season to warrant giving him a spot on the roster.

At the age of 22, Joly still has a long way to go in his career. It will be interesting to see which team picks him up and gives him a shot.

Sean Payton defends Broncos superstar

With his 53-man roster now set, Sean Payton is ready to tackle the new season. His first task, defending Broncos superstar QB, Bo Nix from criticism.

FOX analyst Geoff Schwartz criticized Nix's ability to throw downfield, a clip of which came across Payton's social media feed. The head coach responded by critiquing Schwartz's critique, defending Nix's ability.

He even questioned Schwartz's own history as a player. Now that's one way to back your team.

Written by

Joseph Nithin