The Broncos placed Rod Smith on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday, a move that will sideline the team’s all-time leading receiver for at least the first five games of the regular season.
Smith, 37, needs more time than initially hoped in his recovery from offseason hip surgery.
The Broncos aren’t ready to give up on Smith, mostly because he has earned the benefit of the doubt through past production, but also because No. 3 receiver Brandon Stokley is dealing with his own health issues and Nos. 4 and 5 receivers Brian Clark and Domenik Hixon have yet to make their first NFL catch.
Sauerbrun in, Ernster out
When Paul Ernster was included among the Broncos’ roster cuts Tuesday, it officially made Todd Sauerbrun the team’s punter and kickoff specialist.
Ernster handled both roles last year, but his inconsistency as a punter led the Broncos to re- sign Sauerbrun.
“I hope Paul gets another job somewhere down the road,” Sauerbrun said. “When it comes down to me or him, I don’t feel any remorse about that, nor will I ever. I’m just happy with the way it turned out.”
That edginess is one reason the Broncos wanted Sauerbrun back. He was their punter in 2005 when the Broncos reached the AFC championship game, but he was released last year after a positive test for ephedrine led to a four-game suspension.
Ernster is the better kickoff specialist – he ranked third in the NFL with 19 touchbacks last year – but his 80 punts for a 41.7-yard average ranked only 28th. He figures his fate was sealed not only when the Broncos brought Sauerbrun back, but hired Scott O’Brien as special- teams coach. O’Brien coached Sauerbrun with Carolina.
“I’m not upset,” Ernster said. “Just about everybody gets cut, especially kickers. It’s part of being in the business. I expected this to happen.”
Footnotes
Besides Ernster, the Broncos also released safety Quentin Harris on Tuesday. Eight other players were told they were cut Monday, including defensive end Kenard Lang, defensive tackle Demetrin Veal and wide receivers David Kircus and David Terrell. Tight end Teyo Johnson was cut but will be moved to injured reserve if he clears waivers. … Defensive ends Tim Crowder, a rookie who missed the previous two preseason games with an ankle injury, and John Browning, a veteran signed last week after the season-ending injury to Ebenezer Ekuban, will play Thursday against Arizona.
Broncos cuts
Players waived by the team:
(Pos., Player, Exp.)
RB Cedric Cobbs 3
P Paul Ernster 3
FB Troy Fleming 3
S Quentin Harris 6
TE Teyo Johnson 4
WR David Kircus 4
DE Kenard Lang 11
K Brandon Pace R
WR David Terrell 6
DT Demetrin Veal 5
Staff writer Mike Chambers contributed to this report.
