Thread: Royce Freeman

I don't see a thread about Freeman being cut today.
It was going to be tough for him to make the team...

Royce Freeman, who the Broncos just three years ago considered so highly they selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft to replace 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Anderson, is gone and temporarily unemployed after he was waived Wednesday.

Freeman was dispatched after the Broncos claimed another running back, Nate McCrary, off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.

"In Royce’s situation, he was a guy we liked, he was always dependable. I’m sure he’s going to get claimed here in the next 24 hours," said Broncos coach Vic Fangio. “It was a tough decision, we liked Royce.”

A move like this, though, means the Broncos’ brass like McCrary better. He is a 6-foot, 213-pound undrafted rookie from Saginaw Valley State. He rushed for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2019, but his senior year of football was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In three preseason games with the Ravens, he rushed 163 yards on 42 carries.

"He showed good running ability in the preseason, our scouts have been following him," Fangio said. "And we felt it was worth a chance to take on him."

Freeman set all the career rushing records at Oregon where in four years he rushed 947 times for 5,621 yards and 79 touchdowns – 234 carries, 1,405 yards and 20 touchdowns a season. Soon after he was drafted, the Broncos released Anderson, who had rushed for 1,007 yards the previous year in 2017.

But maybe it was too much of a college workload for Freeman. He started the first-half of his rookie season with the Broncos, but then became the backup to undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay. Freeman became the No. 3 running back last year behind Melvin Gordon III and Lindsay and he was the No. 4 back in training camp this year behind Gordon, second-round rookie Javonte Williams and free-agent pickup Mike Boone. When Boone suffered a quad pull during a join practice at Minnesota three weeks ago, it appeared Freeman would open the season as the No. 3 back. He did for a day.

Not sure that the 4th string RB being cut needed a thread tbh. I'd honestly forgotten he was even still on the team.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...?ocid=msedgntp
Following yesterday’s 53-man roster deadline, the Denver Broncos picked up few players off waiver claims — meaning it was time for a couple players on the existing roster to go.
According to reports from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, one of the players to get the boot was fourth-year running back Royce Freeman.


After he was drafted with a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, Freeman got off to a solid start with the Broncos. In his rookie season, the former Oregon Duck logged 521 yards and five touchdowns through 14 games and eight starts. The next season in 2019, he continued his solid production as the No. 2 running back behind Phillip Lindsay, notching 496 yards and three touchdowns.

This past season, Freeman’s production took a significant dip — largely due to the arrival of new leading rusher Melvin Gordon III. Through 2020, the third-string back collect just 170 yards and zero touchdowns.

While Lindsay left the team to join the Houston Texans in free agency this offseason, the Broncos picked up highly-touted North Carolina running back Javonte Williams in the second round of this year’s draft.

Freeman may be without a team right now, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll go too long without landing on a new roster.

At just 25 years old with a proven ability to produce as a backup running back, the former Bronco should find a new home in no time.

He'll be playing for somebody this season.
I wish him well...

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Not sure that the 4th string RB being cut needed a thread tbh. I'd honestly forgotten he was even still on the team.

Because he a good Bronco. He worked hard and was a good guy.

Plus. They just drafted a more athletic version of him.

Freeman has not looked the same the last two offseasons.

It looks like his replacement runs much harder

They let him go for somebody better, younger, cheaper. Good GM's do good GM things. That said he is a decent back, was a good Bronco and I wish him well. He will find a home quick.

Originally Posted by Timmy!

They let him go for somebody better, younger, cheaper. Good GM's do good GM things. That said he is a decent back, was a good Bronco and I wish him well. He will find a home quick.

We’ve got some good depth at running backs. I agree with you.

Originally Posted by Strafen

We’ve got some good depth at running backs. I agree with you.

Yeah, Timmy! speaks for me on this one as he does on so many matters.

Freeman was already wore out from his college workload when he got to the NFL. Too much wear on the tires from the beginning.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Not sure that the 4th string RB being cut needed a thread tbh. I'd honestly forgotten he was even still on the team.

You forgot he was still on the team huh? A guy that just played a few days ago a lot in the pre season finale you totally forgot he was still on the team? Lol

Royce will catch on with another team though In a back up role

Originally Posted by bronco militia

Freeman has not looked the same the last two offseasons.

It looks like his replacement runs much harder

Smh Royce this mccrary guy none of them matter really there just holding a spot until Boone gets back.

Originally Posted by Jeudy10Hamler1

You forgot he was still on the team huh? A guy that just played a few days ago a lot in the pre season finale you totally forgot he was still on the team? Lol

Royce will catch on wi the another team though In a back up role

I was hoping that they were showcasing him to help him find a home.

Originally Posted by listopencil

I was hoping that they were showcasing him to help him find a home.

Maybe they were. I’m sure he’ll have a job at some point this season though. Probably sooner than later. He can catch, pass pro and run a little.

He is a good RB. He would have been a nice insurance policy on a team that is going to lean heavily on the running game. Sure hope we don't regret this late in the season. This is one of those difficult last min. decisions that have to be made. Good luck Freeman, hope you find a team.