The NFL can be hard on players and that doesn’t suddenly change since it’s the holiday season. The business side of the NFL can be ruthless and that Denver Broncos are no different.

When it comes to putting together the best 53-man roster, sometimes one position has to fill the needs of another. In other cases, a guy might just not get it done, and in the case of cornerback Levi Wallace, maybe it was a little of both.

The Broncos Wallace waived on Tuesday – Christmas Eve – and head coach Sean Payton took the podium shortly after to discuss the move.

“It’s never an easy decision,” Payton said. “Hopefully we’ll see how it goes and we can get him back. “Basically you’re trying to protect your squad in certain positions.”

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The Broncos signed running back Blake Watson to the active roster, which opened up a spot on the practice squad. If Wallace goes off waivers, it sounds like the Broncos want to fill that void with him.

The Broncos brought back starting cornerback Riley Moss this week. He trained fully and without restrictions on Tuesday as the Broncos prepare for a crucial throw Cincinnati Bengals.

That’s great news, and coupled with the emergence of rookie fifth-rounder Kris Abrams-Draine, the Broncos are feeling pretty good about the cornerback room. The presence of Patrick Surtain II, not to mention nickel playmaker Ja’Quan McMillian, proves the truth of that statement.

“I would say Kris Abrams-Draine (and) some of those guys have really stepped up,” Payton said. “Again, keeping a young player like Blake Watson that others are trying to get – this is the time of year when some of the teams that might not be there are trying to improve with an eye to the future. It’s always difficult. “It’s the management of the squad,” but that’s difficult.”

The Broncos coveted Watson after not hearing his name called in the NFL Draft and gave him a sizable contract to compete. While this wasn’t necessarily a guarantee of a roster spot, it did signal that the Broncos expected him to secure one.

By moving back and forth between the training group and the squad, through promotions and other transactions, Watson finally gets the chance to prove himself a little. He had a couple of impressive runs in LA last week, catching the attention of some NFL teams looking to poach guys from practice squads.

Unfortunately, combined with Moss’ recovery and the emergence of Abrams-Draine, Wallace became an underdog. But it might not last much longer. We’ll see if any other team claims Wallace on waivers.

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