Broncos release Ja’Wuan James after off-site injury
The Broncos released injured offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The news comes after they placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list last week.
Earlier this month, James tore his Achilles while working out at an off-site location, and he tweeted that his surgery went well. Doctors told the 28-year-old last week but they’re hoping he won’t miss the entire season, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Want $250?
This happened away from the Broncos’ facility. As a result, the team has the ability through the collective bargaining agreement to withhold his 2021 base salary. He was guaranteed $10 million.
James had been working out at the Broncos’ facility this offseason. Until the NFLPA urged players to boycott on-site work due to COVID-19 concerns. Denver’s players announced in early April that they wouldn’t be participating in the team’s voluntary offseason workouts.
“With offseason programs starting in less than a week and without adequate protocols in place in order for us players to return safely, we will be exercising our right to not participate in voluntary offseason workouts,” Denver’s players said in a statement by the NFL Players Association. “COVID-19 remains a serious threat to our families and to our communities. It makes no sense to us as players to put ourselves at risk during this dead period.”
Read: Zach Ertz Won’t Report To Eagles Camp Amid Trade Rumours
A statement on behalf of the Denver Broncos players: pic.twitter.com/b7ZQZ1Z7PY
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 13, 2021
James isn’t the only Broncos player who has been injured this offseason away from the team facility. Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton tore a knee ligament Friday morning, according to Rapoport. It was rumored that the team had been trying to trade him in recent days instead of waiving Hamilton and were reportedly in talks with at least one team as recently as Thursday.
