The Denver Broncos made a surprising move on Tuesday, waiving cornerback Levi Wallace to promote running back Blake Watson from the practice squad to the active roster.
Wallace, who played in the first 13 games of the season and started two, including a 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns on December 2, had a challenging outing against Browns quarterback Jameis Winston in place of the injured Riley Moss. Since then, Wallace has been a healthy scratch, as the Broncos have opted to give younger players like rookie Kris Abrams-Draine, from Spanish Fort High School, a chance to step in for Moss.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke on the tough decision to waive Wallace, saying, “It’s never an easy decision. Hopefully, we’ll be able to bring him back on the practice squad. You have to protect your roster at certain positions, and with the way Kris Abrams-Draine and other young players have been performing, it’s a hard choice. We’re also looking to keep Blake Watson, as some teams out of playoff contention may try to pick up practice-squad players at this time of year to build for the future.”
Payton acknowledged the challenge of roster management, stating, “It’s difficult, but it’s part of the process.”
Wallace, who joined the Broncos as a free agent in April, had played 307 defensive snaps and 49 special-teams plays this season.
