The Denver Broncos are moving on from running back Audric Estime.

One year after taking the former Notre Dame product in the fifth-round of the NFL Draft, head coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton have seen enough.

Estime is being cut according to 9NEWS and 104.3 The Fan insider Mike Klis.

Broncos have waived RB Audric Estime per source.

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) August 25, 2025

This one hurts, as many thought Audric Estime could be the future at running back in Denver just 16 months ago. Instead, he’ll be looking for a new team, beat out by the likes of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson. At least, for now.

The Broncos still have about 22 hours to make more cuts, and Watson was hurt in the preseason finale against the Saints, so we’ll see how the RB room shakes out. Even if Denver cuts McLaughlin, Badie or Watson, they might try to put them back on the practice squad.

Estime rushed for only 310 yards in 2024 as a rookie. He did that on 76 carries, while also scoring two touchdown. Estime also had a pair of fumbles and was a surprising inactive against the Bills in the playoffs. Payton decided to give Badie a jersey instead of Estime in Buffalo.

On Saturday in New Orleans, Audric Estime put out some good tape. He had eight carries for 45 yards and a touchdown. It might be enough to get him claimed on waivers by a different NFL squad.

In the meantime, it simply didn’t work out with the Broncos. Sometimes that’s just how it goes, and his brief career in Denver is now almost certainly done.