J.D. Walton, the Broncos center whose promising career was derailed by a severe ankle injury, has been released.
The 26-year-old Walton was the Broncos’ third-round draft pick in 2010 and played all but one snap in the first 38 games of his career. But in Week Four of 2012 he suffered a broken ankle, and he still hasn’t been able to play since.
Walton spent the final 12 games of last season on injured reserve and still wasn’t ready at the start of this season, so he was placed on the physically unable to perform list. Walton was moved to the 53-man roster last month but never played.
Cutting Walton opens up a roster spot that the Broncos have used to sign defensive end Jeremy Mincey.