Lenny Walls sat in the Broncos’ locker room Tuesday, knowing it was one of his final days with a team that saw him rise from undrafted free agent to starting right cornerback.
In a surprising bye-week move, Denver put Walls on injured reserve. However, he was put on a little-used list that mandates a team must release a player when he regains his health in a six-week window.
“I’m perfectly fine with it,” Walls said. “It’s time to move on.”
A series of injuries and the development of the Broncos’ young secondary contributed to Walls’ benching. He and his agent, Peter Schaffer, asked the team to release the fourth-year player.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan wouldn’t discuss Walls’ future, but said the move was made because of solid play from rookies Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth, and depth that includes third-round pick Karl Paymah, Curome Cox, Sam Brandon and Roc Alexander.
“It’s one of those tough decisions,” Shanahan said.
To replace Walls, who’ll likely rehabilitate at Dove Valley, the Broncos signed rookie safety Hamza Abdullah off Tampa Bay’s practice squad. He was a seventh-round pick by the Buccaneers.
Walls, signed out of Boston College in 2002, was replaced by Williams in the starting lineup against Kansas City on Sept. 26. Because of several injuries, most notably to Champ Bailey, Walls played often with Williams and Foxworth.
At nearly 6-feet-5, Walls is the tallest cornerback in the NFL. He was set to be a starter last year but had five injuries before going on injured reserve late in the season.
“This is probably for the best,” Walls said.
Schaffer said he expects Walls to be ready to play in a couple of weeks. Walls suffered a groin injury Oct. 23 during pregame warm-ups. Schaffer said the Broncos decided to grant Walls’ wishes for release.
“We thank the Broncos for this unique opportunity,” Schaffer said. “Lenny is looking forward to resuming his 2005 season elsewhere. He appreciates what the team has done for him in this situation and wishes them well.”
Added Walls: “You’ll see me again this year.”
Two months ago, this move seemed unlikely. Walls, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, appeared to be in the team’s long-term plans. But that was before the emergence of Williams and Foxworth.
Denver gave Walls the $1.43 million first-round tender as a restricted free agent in the spring, choosing to tender him rather than fellow restricted free agent Kelly Herndon, who departed for Seattle. The Broncos’ biggest offseason priority now likely will be re-signing defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who has been a first-half standout.
Meanwhile, the signing of Abdullah reunites him with Paymah. Both were in the same secondary at Washington State, and they are close friends.
“He’s going to push me and I’m going to push him,” Paymah said. “It’s great to have him here.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
