Story update: Just before the roster cut deadline, the Broncos traded tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to the Eagles instead of cutting him. See our original post below.
The Denver Broncos waived tight end Albert Okwuegbunam on Tuesday, a move that was not particularly well-received by fans.
“Albert O” has shown flashes of great potential as a receiving tight end, including a big performance in the team’s preseason finale last week. Against the Los Angeles Rams, Okwuegbunam had a huge game with seven receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.
That monster game wasn’t enough to make the 53-man roster, though. Why not?
Mark Schlereth, who played for the Broncos from 1995-2000, helped explain the Okwuegbunam cut on Tuesday with a video breakdown of one of Denver’s running plays against the Rams.
There is more to making a football team, then just catching passes. #broncos pic.twitter.com/cIh4huVlFq
— Mark Schlereth (@markschlereth) August 29, 2023
Schlereth pointed out a play where he says “Albert O” had “the easiest block on the field.” Despite having inside positioning, Okwuegbunam is driven off the line of scrimmage and is pushed all the way past the hole that the running back ends up running into.
“That is just absolutely garbage,” Schlereth says in the video. “And that’s why ‘Albert O’ is looking for work.”
Schlereth knows a thing or two about blocking — he won three Super Bowls (two with Denver and one with Washington) during his 12-year career as a guard in the NFL.
Okwuegbunam will now be subject to the NFL’s waiver wire.
