Broncos cut eight players, will need to release two more Tuesday

The Broncos began the process of getting down to 80 players by Tuesday’s veteran player reporting date by making eight roster moves Monday.

Waived were quarterback Riley Neal, running back Khalfani Muhammad, receiver Kelvin McKnight, linebacker Tre’ Crawford, center/guard Nico Falah and defensive backs Kahani Smith and Shakial Taylor.

Defensive end Joel Heath was released.

Last week, the NFL’s return-towork agreement with the NFLPA stipulated teams had the option of cutting from 90 to 80 players by the veteran players’ report date or reducing the roster by Aug. 16, the day before teams can practice in pads for the first time.

By choosing to go with the 80man roster option, the Broncos can practice together as a full team when they are permitted to hit the field. Under the 90-man rule, teams would have to practice in a split-squad format until the cut to 80.

Among the waived players, only Neal was an undrafted free agent rookie.

Taylor finished last year on the Broncos’ active roster (no games played). Muhammad and McKnight finished on the practice squad, Falah (torn Achilles) was on injured reserve the entire year and Crawford and Smith were signed to futures contracts after the season.

Heath was acquired off waivers from Houston in February.

The Broncos’ rookies, quarterbacks and rehabilitating veterans were tested for the first time last week, and because none were positive for COVID-19, they were allowed to enter the facility Monday.

The league’s Reserve/COVID19 list is for players who tested positive for coronavirus or were in close contact with an infected person or persons. The NFL has told teams not to specify if a player has a positive test or has been in contact with other individuals.

Diversity program hires. The Broncos announced they have added five staff members to their coaching and personnel staffs through the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship, the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship and the team’s diversity coaching internship.

Jett Modkins (diversity coaching intern) and Rod Rook-Chungong (scouting fellowship) will join the Broncos for the entire season. James Daniels IV, Tony Jerod-Eddie and Emily Zaler will work with the team during training camp.

Modkins, the son of Broncos running backs coach Curtis Modkins, was a volunteer defensive assistant for Akron last year and will spend this year aiding the Broncos’ offensive assistants. Jett Modkins has been with the Broncos since the draft.

Rook-Chungong played defensive end at Georgia Tech and spent the last two years as staff assistant for the Yellow Jackets program.

Daniels played running back at Mount Union (Ohio) and has coaching experience with Dayton, Buffalo and East Stroudsburg (Pa.).

Jerod-Eddie played five years for the San Francisco 49ers (201216), including three seasons when Broncos coach Vic Fangio was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.

Zaler will assist the Broncos’ strength and conditioning staff and was mostly recently a seasonal assistant for the New York Knicks.