ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The Broncos decided to stick with the kids.

And by football standards, Josh Reynolds is no child.

In a slight surprise, the Broncos waived veteran Reynolds on Tuesday. Reynolds, 29, suffered a broken finger during the Broncos’ Week 5 win on Oct. 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. Reynolds capped the scoring in that game with a 9-yard touchdown catch from Bo Nix. It was later revealed that Reynolds had suffered a broken finger and was placed on injured reserve for four weeks.

However, less than two weeks later, Reynolds and two companions left Shotgun Willie’s, a strip club in Glendale, around 2 a.m. on Friday, October 18, and were chased by at least three vehicles in Reynolds’ Ford Bronco.

Someone in one of those vehicles started shooting. Reynolds and his companions were all injured, either by gunfire or flying glass. Reynolds suffered minor injuries to the back of his head and left arm.

Luis Mendoza, 35, and Burr Charlesworth, 42, were later arrested on multiple charges, including six counts each of attempted murder.

Reynolds was recovered from his broken finger, but the team kept him on IR for another four weeks. While he’s been sidelined, two rookie receivers, Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, have each emerged as complementary weapons for the Bo Nix-led offense.

Head coach Sean Payton also liked the blocking and catching game of senior receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. There’s also No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton and versatile speed threat Marvin Mims Jr., a second-year player.

The deadline to activate Reynolds on the 53-man roster was Wednesday, but doing so would have meant cutting another player.

After Reynolds signed a two-year, $9 million contract as a free agent in late March to become the team’s second-best receiver, he became expendable. He received $4.31 million from the Broncos and in return had 12 catches for 183 yards and the only touchdown. None of the $4.5 million planned for next year was guaranteed, so the Broncos had no further financial obligations beyond their pre-existing debts.

Based on his contract, he is expected to clear waivers on Wednesday, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he then draws interest from other playoff-contending teams willing to sign for the prorated portion of the vet’s minimum salary.