Broncos release Mark Barron without putting the linebacker on the field
The Denver Broncos released Mark Barron on Tuesday without the former Alabama All-American playing a snap for the NFL team this season.
Barron signed a one-year contract with the Broncos on Aug. 30 that contained $1 million in guaranteed money.
But Barron sustained a hamstring injury at practice on Sept. 4. After the linebacker missed the Broncos’ first two games of the 2020 campaign, Denver put him on injured reserve on Sept. 23. His return was delayed when he suffered a pectoral injury in October.
Denver designated Barron for return on Nov. 6, allowing him to join practice, and restored him to the active roster on Nov. 25, making him eligible to play. But the Broncos designated Barron as a game-day inactive for each of their four games since he rejoined the active roster.
Denver signed cornerback Parnell Motley off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad last week and needed a roster spot for him when his exemption ended after he cleared COVID-19 testing protocols.
During 119 NFL regular-season games, including 102 starts, Barron has made 710 tackles, recorded 12 sacks, intercepted nine passes, broken up 42 passes, forced five fumbles and recovered four fumbles. He’s also played in four postseason games, including Super Bowl LIII.
At Alabama, Barron earned All-SEC recognition in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and All-American selection in 2011 as a safety. He entered the NFL as the seventh player picked in the 2012 draft.
Before Alabama and the NFL, Barron was an All-State linebacker for St. Paul’s Episcopal in 2007, when the Mobile school posted a 14-1 record and won the AHSAA Class 5A championship.
BRONCOS LINEBACKER MARK BARRON HOLDING CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY
Two other NFL transactions on Tuesday involved players with Alabama football roots.
The Cleveland Browns placed offensive lineman Chris Hubbard on injured reserve. The former UAB standout sustained a knee injury on the Browns’ second offensive snap in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Cleveland’s starter at right offensive tackle for the previous three seasons, Hubbard had started five games as an injury replacement at right guard and right tackle and played 291 offensive snaps and 52 special-teams snaps in 11 games in his seventh NFL season.
The Los Angeles Rams signed cornerback Dee Virgin for their practice squad. The former West Alabama standout had been released from the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on Thursday. In his third season with Detroit, Virgin played one defensive snaps and 30 special-teams plays in two games in 2020.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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