Every general manager will say the same thing.
Every roster cut this time of year is difficult.
The player sitting across the table wants nothing more than to make the team and to know his NFL career is continuing.
More than 1,200 players were let go in some form or fashion across the league this week.
Not many were tougher than the Broncos letting running back Jaleel McLaughlin know he was being waived on Sunday.
McLaughlin made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2023 but has seen the room change and advance around him.
He was left off Sunday in favor of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, rookie Jonah Coleman and fellow bubble candidate Tyler Badie.
“That was really tough,” Denver general manager George Paton said Sunday. … “Jaleel, he’s something else. He was really important to this team, the passion, everything he brings.”
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McLaughlin sometimes grew up without a place to sleep at night. His work ethic is the stuff of legend, from pre-dawn hill running and workouts to the time he bought a JUGS machine with his own money to try to improve as a pass-catching option with the Broncos.
In the end, the conversation came down to Badie’s ability to pass-protect and his more expansive special teams role, which includes playing on the team’s punt shield.
“Without getting into details, it was a really hard decision,” Paton said. “Obviously, special teams are involved, third-down ability. There’s a lot involved.
“That was probably the last decision we made, this fourth runner.”
Frank Crum, Caleb Lohner start season on injured reserve
The Broncos will start the season with a pair of potential future contributors on the shelf.
Offensive tackle Frank Crum was injured in the team’s second preseason game against Green Bay and now will miss at least the first four games. He’s a swing tackle, jumbo tight end and even caught a postseason touchdown in January.
The exact nature and severity of his injury are not known, but he’s expected to be ready around the time he’s eligible to return, sources have told The Post.
Lohner, meanwhile, will be out longer. The second-year tight end drew rave reviews from Payton after the club’s rookie minicamp in May, but then was out for all of OTAs and minicamp with an injury.
He was not put on the physically unable to perform list to start camp and was expected to join quickly, but then sustained another injury. He was seen watching practice with a boot on his left foot and never did get on the field.
Paton on Sunday said Lohner will not be back in the fold until the middle of the season, perhaps in late October.
Gone, but not really
The Broncos don’t technically have a fullback or a long snapper on their 53-man roster. Both positions, however, will be used in Week 1 against Kansas City.
Fullback Adam Prentice and long snapper Mitch Fraboni are each veteran players and thus not subject to waivers when released. That allowed the Broncos to strike a deal with each to start the season on the practice squad.
They did the same last year with quarterback Sam Ehlinger and he ended up on the 53 anyway later in the week when Malcolm Roach hurt his calf in practice and was put on injured reserve. If something like that happens, one or both of Prentice and Fraboni could be added to the 53 sooner rather than later. Otherwise, they can each be elevated from the practice squad three times. After that, they’ll have to be added to the 53 in order to continue playing.
