The Denver Broncos will not be tendering pending restricted free agent Diontae Spencer, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The move closes the door on a potential return to the Mile High City and will allow the former CFL all-star to hit the open market unrestricted on March 17.
Thank you Denver 🧡
— Diontae Spencer (@DSpencer4_) March 13, 2022
Spencer has played 42 games over three seasons in Denver, serving as the team’s primary returner. He fielded 68 punts over that span for 667 yards and scored one touchdown, adding 47 kickoff returns for 1,008 yards. The McNeese State product also caught 10 passes for 54 yards, while rushing six times for 25 more.
The five-foot-eight, 170-pound speedster has earned more than $2.1 million since jumping to the NFL in 2019.
After going unselected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Spencer broke into the CFL in 2015 as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, where he spent two seasons. He signed with the Ottawa Redblacks prior to the 2017 season, becoming one of the league’s breakout stars and a thousand-yard receiver the next season.
In 57 career CFL games, Spencer caught 259 passes for 3,137 yards and 17 touchdowns. He added 191 punt returns for 2,162 yards and two touchdowns, 90 kickoff returns for 1,977 yards, and eight missed field goal returns for 310 yards and another score.
In 2017, Spencer set a new CFL single-game mark with 496 all-purpose yards in one outing.
The versatile weapon was named an East Division all-star in 2017 and 2018, taking home league honours in his final season. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers that off-season but was cut in training camp, landing with the Broncos.
