


The Denver Broncos cut veteran pass rusher Randy Gregory after they failed to trade him on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Gregory, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract with Denver in March 2022, “asked for a fresh start elsewhere,” per Denver7, and the team obliged.
The news came after Gregory saw his snaps diminish, which led to him losing his starting job to second-year pro Nik Bonitto in Sunday’s 31-28 win over the Bears.
Gregory was limited to 33 snaps and finished with three tackles and one quarterback hit in the Week 4 matchup.
In addition to Bonitto, the Broncos are expected to utilize their younger outside linebackers including Jonathon Cooper, Thomas Incoom and Baron Browning.
It signals a bit of a youth movement with the Broncos, who are off to a 1-3 start under first-year coach Sean Payton.
Browning is reportedly expected to be activated from the physically unable to perform list and start practicing this week following surgery to repair a meniscus tear he suffered in May.
Denver is also expecting the return of Frank Clark, who’s been out since Week 1 with a hip injury.
Gregory, 30, was reportedly informed of his release on Tuesday night.
His $14 million base salary for 2023 and $5 million next season are fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.
In his four games with Denver this season, he has nine tackles and a single sack.
Gregory played in just six games last season due to a knee injury, which required arthroscopic surgery in October 2022.
He also served a one-game suspension for a fight with Rams lineman Oday Aboushi following a loss on Christmas Day.
The Broncos had hoped Gregory would help fill the void for Bradley Chubb, who was traded to the Dolphins in November 2022.
Gregory — a 2015 second-round pick by the Cowboys — never played a full season in his six years with Dallas due to injury.
The Broncos host the Jets on Sunday.