Avery provides the Broncos with a backup to NFL rushing champion Terrell Davis and also can return kicks. The Broncos lost free agent kick returner Vaughn Hebron in the offseason.

Avery was inactive for last Sunday's win over Arizona and was squeezed out of a Miami backfield which features three rookies. Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson drafted running backs J.J. Johnson and Cecil Collins and fullback Rob Konrad in 1999 and all three have made immediate contributions. Konrad's ability to catch passes out of the backfield probably made Avery expendable.

"Because of the number of running backs we have, John just didn't fit in here," Johnson said. "Hopefully, he'll be a more consistent performer with the Broncos."

Avery, the 29th overall pick in 1998, rushed for 503 yards and two touchdowns on 143 carries as a rookie. He also caught 10 passes for 67 yards and a score and returned 43 kicks for 1,085 yards, a 25.2 average.

The Broncos quickly soured on Nash, who had four catches for 76 yards in six games as a rookie and no receptions in two games this year. He was given his first NFL start Sunday for the injured Rod Smith and was shut out in a 26-10 loss to Kansas City.

The Dolphins likely will use Nash as a spare receiver behind starters Tony Martin and O.J. McDuffie and reserves Oronde Gadsden, Yatil Green and Larry Shannon.

"Marcus is a talented player who was Denver's first-round pick a year ago," said Johnson. "We'll give him the opportunity to work things out here."

Selected right after Avery in the 1998 draft, Nash is second on the University of Tennessee's all-time list with 177 receptions for 2,447 yards.