Fullback Johnson leads Broncos cuts

ENGLEWOOD - The Denver Broncos cured a logjam at running back by getting rid of starting fullback Kyle Johnson.

Johnson, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and receiver/kickoff returner Quincy Morgan were the biggest names among the team’s cuts Saturday.

Johnson was Denver’s starting fullback since 2004, but the Broncos switched Cecil Sapp and Mike Bell from tailback to fullback in the final preseason game. Sapp and Bell could continue to practice at fullback, which would make room for surprising rookie Selvin Young at tailback. Denver also kept tailback Andre Hall.

Young, who was undrafted out of Texas, led the Broncos this preseason with 167 rushing yards. He got extra playing time because of injuries to Travis Henry and Bell and made a case to be Denver’s backup tailback.

“I feel like I’ve given everything I’ve got from the moment I walked in the door,” Young said after Thursday’s preseason game against Arizona.

Sapp could take Johnson’s starting spot. Sapp entered training camp as the starting fullback last year, but lost the job when he was hurt for most of the preseason. Sapp worked at tailback from the beginning of the offseason until the fourth preseason game.

Kennedy, a former first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams, was acquired in an offseason trade. Releasing Kennedy will mean a bigger role for rookie tackle Marcus Thomas and veteran Alvin McKinley, who also can play end.

Kenny Peterson can play end or tackle. His four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances begins now, and he doesn’t count against the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Morgan was Denver’s primary kickoff returner to start the preseason and had a 58-yard return in the opener against the 49ers. But the Broncos decided to stick with young receivers Brian Clark and Domenik Hixon as their fourth and fifth receivers. Clark and Hixon are the top candidates to assume kickoff return duties.

“I felt like I earned a spot,” Morgan said. “They said that too, but it’s the nature of the business.”

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