The Denver Broncos cut inside linebacker Barrington Wade on Thursday with a waived/injured designation.
To fill Wade’s former spot on the 80-man roster, the Broncos signed undrafted rookie linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, who went to training camp with the San Francisco 49ers this summer.
Gemmel (6-1, 225 pounds) recorded 75 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble at North Carolina last fall. He was cut by the 49ers earlier this week.
The Broncos will have some interesting decisions to make at inside linebacker when final roster cuts begin next week.
Josey Jewell is a locked-in starter and Jonas Griffith is expected to start next to him once he fully recovers from his elbow injury. Alex Singleton is the top backup behind Jewell and Griffith, but there’s very little depth behind him.
Following Wade’s release, the only other ILBs on the roster after Jewell, Griffith and Singleton are Gemmel, Justin Strnad and Kana’i Mauga. Strnad has underwhelmed in preseason and Mauga seems to be more of a practice squad candidate than a true contender for the 53-man roster.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Broncos add a fourth linebacker off the waiver wire once other teams complete their cuts early next week. Jewell, Griffith and Singleton are likely locks, but the ILB4 position could be up in the air.
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