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ENGLEWOOD, Colo .– The Denver Broncos have freed cornerback AJ Bouye.
The move is the first in a series to be made from a cornerback as the Broncos rebuild their depth chart at position after a season that has seen four cornerbacks, including Bryce Callahan, end the year on the injured reserve. Bouye also missed the last four games of 2020 due to a six-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The 29-year-old will still be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season.
The move will free up $ 11.7 million from the Broncos’ salary cap, and the team will now have just under $ 31 million of salary cap space as they begin to work. work on their offseason plan.
George Paton, who was hired as the Broncos ‘new general manager last month, had vowed that the “tough decisions” over some players’ futures would begin after meeting with the team’s scouting and pro staff as well as the coaches. the decisions to be made are option years in the contracts of linebacker Von Miller and safety Kareem Jackson as well as the near-term future of quarterback Drew Lock in the team’s offense.
The Broncos sent a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars last March in exchange for Bouye. At the time, the Broncos were hoping Bouye and Callahan would give them a group of veteran cornerbacks to help their defense in pursuit of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
However, Bouye’s play was uneven as he missed four games with a shoulder injury as well as another game in concussion protocol before missing the last four games with the suspension.
He finished with 21 tackles and no interceptions in seven games.
At the time of his suspension, coach Vic Fangio said: “I was disappointed for him. Players have to make very good judgments with people they trust for their careers and finances. Obviously, something went wrong with this person he was dealing with. It’s a disappointing situation for everyone. ”
Bouye, an eight-year veteran, has 14 interceptions, 72 passes defended and 338 tackles in his career.
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