The Broncos’ youth movement continues.

Sources said Monday that Denver will release wide receiver Tim Patrick, who turns 31 in November, and running back Samaje Perine, who turns 29 in September, although either could be traded. The news on Patrick was a surprise, while it wasn’t on Perine.

NFL teams must get down to the initial roster limit of 53 by 2 p.m. Tuesday, and the Broncos were active on Monday, cutting eight players. That included the waiving of former Air Force linebacker Alec Mock and former Colorado State offensive lineman Oliver Jervis.

Also, a source said punter Trenton Gill was informed he will be waived Tuesday. That means incumbent Riley Dixon won the punting battle.

Other players waived were defensive backs Art Green, Kaleb Hayes and Omar Brown. Those released were linebacker Andre Smith, defensive lineman Angelo Blackson and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.

The Broncos have made a number of moves this year to get younger, including releasing quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Justin Simmons and not re-signing some older free agents.

Patrick missed the past two seasons due to injuries and scored a touchdown in an emotional home preseason game Aug. 18 against Green Bay. However, the Broncos are loaded at wide receiver and they want to hold onto rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele.

Patrick agreed to take a significant pay cut to the NFL minimum of $1.25 million after missing 2022 with a torn ACL and 2023 with a torn Achilles. Due to his modest price tag and Patrick having showed in the preseason he is healthy, there could be a trade market for him.

Perine’s days have been numbered since the Broncos selected fellow burly back Audric Estime in the fifth round of the NFL draft last April. Perine did not play in Sunday’s 38-12 win over Arizona in the preseason finale because the Broncos knew they were moving on from him and didn’t want to risk injury.

If the Broncos release Perine, they would save $3 million on the salary cap. However, they are hoping to get a late-round draft pick for him.

Gill was involved in a punting battle with Riley Dixon and had better statistics as the Broncos went 3-0 in the preseason. With both players having five punts, Gill averaged 53.6 yards gross and 48.6 net and Dixon 46.6 yards gross and 41.6 net.

However, the Broncos, who open the season Sept. 8 at Seattle, decided to go with Dixon based on his body of work from last spring through the preseason on the practice field and due to his consistency.

There were no surprises among the players officially let go Monday. Sources said Green, Hayes and Dorsett are among those who could be candidates for the practice squad.

Including the impending departures of Patrick, Perine and Gill, the Broncos’ have trimmed their roster to 80 players. It will be reduced by two more when linebacker Drew Sanders, who suffered a torn Achilles in April, and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, who suffered a torn ACL last December, are placed Tuesday on the physically unable to perform list. So that would result on moves needing to be made on 25 players.

The Broncos can place up to two players on injured reserve Tuesday with the ability for only the first four games of the season to be missed. One of those players could be cornerback Damarri Mathis.

Mathis suffered a right ankle injury on the second play against the Cardinals, and was taken off the field on a cart. Coach Sean Payton said after the game the injury wasn’t serious. However, Mathis still could miss some time.

With Patrick on his way out, receivers expected to be on the 53-man roster are Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims, Franklin and Vele. One other receiver is likely to make it, with the leading candidates being Brandon Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Johnson, who has played the past two seasons with Denver, might have secured a roster spot against the Cardinals. He caught two passes for 83 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass.

“It can be stressful, but it is what you make of it,’’ Johnson said of Tuesday’s deadline approaching. “It can be (an anxious feeling). Definitely some nerves with that.”

Defensive lineman Elijah Garcia is another veteran holdover from last season who didn’t deny there is some stress as Tuesday approaches. If he is let go, Garcia said he would have interest in joining Denver’s practice squad.

“Either way it goes, I’m here to compete,’’ he said. “So if they see a role for me on (the practice squad) or on the team, I’m going to bring my best self every day.

Broncos undrafted rookie linebacker Levelle Bailey also is on the bubble but helped himself by returning an interception 94 yards for a touchdown against the Cardinals. If Bailey doesn’t make the 53-man roster, he would be a strong candidate for the practice squad.

“I would be considering that as my quote-unquote redshirt year and continue to develop as a linebacker in the NFL,’’ Bailey said of the possibility he could join the practice squad.

Bailey has the best chance of any undrafted rookie to make Denver’s 53. The Broncos also like undrafted running back Blake Watson, but he most likely will land on the practice squad.