The writing was on the wall for former Notre Dame football running back Audric Estime all the way back to this spring. The Denver Broncos selected former UCF RB R.J. Harvey with the No. 60 pick overall in the most recent NFL draft. It was high enough that it should have convinced Estime that his job was officially in trouble.
On Monday, just ahead of the official waiver deadline, Estime was officially cut loose by the Broncos and he'll now have to look for another team if he wants to continue his NFL career. The waiver was also not all that surprising, considering that the former Irish ball-carrier struggled with injuries throughout his time with Denver, including various bumps and bruises this year.
What Audric Estime’s roster status means for Notre Dame’s NFL pipeline
There is a spot of good news for the former Notre Dame football star, who was the Broncos' fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Estime clears waivers and is a free agent, the Broncos would like to bring him back and put him on their practice squad.
Sources: The #Broncos are waiving RB Audric Estime. pic.twitter.com/f4W8YHqjhU
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 25, 2025
Last year, Estime dressed for 13 games as a rookie, rushing 76 times for 310 yards and two touchdowns while adding five receptions for 27 yards as a receiver out of the backfield. However, it was clear the Broncos were looking to revamp their running back room. In addition to drafting Harvey, they also signed J.K. Dobbins during free agency this spring.
The Broncos appear set to go into the 2025 season with Dobbins, Harvey, Tyler Badie, and Jaleel McLaughlin handling the backfield duties, making Estime expendable.
The former Notre Dame football star could see considerable interest from other teams in the league who may not be as set at the position as the Broncos feel they are. Should he clear waivers, Denver could bring him back on Wednesday to join the practice squad.