Matt Prater has been released by the Denver Broncos.

Prater, who had served three games of a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, was set to be reinstated Monday.

"Any time you make football decisions in an organization, especially [someone] that's been with you for a period of time like Matt, it's always difficult,'' Broncos coach John Fox said following Friday's practice. "It's always a football decision, what's going to give us the best chance, in our opinion. We wish Matt nothing but the best moving forward.''

Brandon McManus will remain as the Broncos' kicker.