The Denver Broncos cut offensive tackle Ja’Waun James, who recently tore his Achilles while training outside the team’s facilities.
The situation for Broncos offensive tackle Ja’Waun James just went from bad to worst.
The six-year veteran, who tore his Achilles during a private workout and ended up on the non-football injury list, has now been cut.
James was released by the team “with the intention to not pay him the $10M+ he was due in salary because he was injured away from the facility,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported.
This one is controversial. The NFLPA encouraged players to skip voluntary workouts as they debated with the NFL about how to set up this year’s offseason programs. As a result, players like James worked out on their own.
The problem is, working out away from team facilities means the team has no liability with regard to injuries. If you get injured, even while training for football, they’re not obligated to honor your contract.
The Broncos used Ja’Wuan James’ injury to conveniently dump his contract
For James, the situation was complicated by his contract situation.
The offensive tackle signed with Denver in 2019 after starting 62 games over five years for the Dolphins. He played just three games before a knee injury ended his season. He then opted out of the 2020 campaign because of concerns over COVID-19.
This new season-ending injury would mean the Broncos got just three games out of the player over a three-year span.
Denver will have been eager to get rid of his $10 million contract. The away-from-facilities injury gave them everything they needed.
Injuries away from the facility have been an issue for the Broncos this offseason. Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton tore his ACL. Denver had been in the process of trading him before the injury scuppered that plan, according to Rapoport.