Just 15 months after they were so desperate to land Paul Toviessi that the Denver Broncos traded up in the second round of the 2001 draft to get him, the team is now set to release the former Marshall University star, after doctors assessed that severe knee problems will probably preclude the once-promising defensive end from ever playing in the NFL.

The release of Toviessi, who experienced knee problems in training camp last summer and never played a snap for the Broncos, is expected to become official on Wednesday.

Toviessi, 24, has undergone three surgeries in less than a year, including the most recent operation in May, in an attempt to correct a problem with his right knee. But the joint is now bone-on-bone and, while a radical procedure might salvage his career, there appears to be no guarantees with such a surgery and Toviessi is likely to retire.

"The term 'frustrating' doesn't even capture it," Toviessi said. "It's way beyond that."

Denver traded up in the 2001 draft, sending second- and fourth-round choices to Buffalo to get into position to choose Toviessi, a player regarded as possessing superb potential, with the 51st overall selection. In college, Toviessi was a solid two-way player, adept at stopping the run and with a quick upfield step on the pass rush. Certainly the club viewed him as a future starter.

He signed a four-year contract worth $2.557 million and it included a signing bonus of $1.243 million.

But less than two weeks into training camp last summer, Toviessi experienced pain in his right knee, which had been surgically repaired during his 1998 sophomore year in college. He underwent a series of operations, including the controversial "microfracture" surgery, but never got onto the field.

Denver officials were optimistic earlier this spring, but Toviessi was not able to go at anything resembling full-speed in mini-camps, and more recent examinations resulted in the new prognosis.

The release of Toviessi will leave the Broncos a body thinner at end and could well mean the team will retain veteran Kavika Pittman, a player some observers felt might have a hard time making the roster. Denver will have to carry a $310,750 salary cap charge for 2002 and a charge of $621,500 in 2003, because of remaining prorated shares of the signing bonus.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.