Broncos OT Alex Palczewski believed to have suffered high ankle sprain

Alex Palczewski likely has a high ankle sprain. Mike McGlinchey has to sit out one more game before being eligible to return from IR.

Denver Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s 34-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Palczewski (6-6, 314 pounds) will undergo more testing on Monday. If it is indeed a high ankle sprain, Palczewski could miss multiple weeks. That would be a big blow to Denver’s offensive line as ‘Palco’ has done an excellent job filling in for Mike McGlinchey, who is still on injured reserve.

“Very impressed,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said when asked about Palczewski on Friday. “We talked about it last week. This guy started and I think he set a record for most games played in college. He just knows how to play the game. I think we kind of anticipated that he’d be able to hang in there and be productive.

“You don’t know for sure until you really see the live bullets and he’s kind of lived up to those expectations. It’s fun to watch when you have a guy that’s [a] late draft pick or a free agent who are able to come in and compete at that level and compete well. It’s very exciting.”

If the Broncos place Palczewski on IR, he would have to sit out at least four games. McGlinchey, meanwhile, will be eligible to return in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints.

In the meantime, Matt Peart is presumably the next man up against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6, assuming Palczewski won’t be available.

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Broncos improve to 3-2 with 34-18 win over Raiders

The Broncos have won three straight games! What a win over the Raiders on Sunday!

After falling behind 10-0 early, the Denver Broncos stormed back to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 at home in Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday. With that victory, Denver snapped an eight-game losing streak to Las Vegas that dated back to 2019.

The Raiders opened the scoring when quarterback Gardner Minshew connected with tight end Brock Bowers for a 57-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Broncos safety P.J. Locke misjudged the ball in man coverage and Bowers had an easy run for a score after making the catch.

Following a Denver punt, Las Vegas added a field goal to make it 10-0 late in the first quarter. The Broncos matched that score with a 51-yard field goal from Wil Lutz to cut the deficit to 10-3.

On the next drive, cornerback Pat Surtain intercepted a pass on the edge of the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 midway through the second quarter.

Denver later got the ball back with 27 seconds until halftime and quarterback Bo Nix led a five-play, 23-yard drive to step up another Lutz field goal that gave the Broncos a 13-10 lead going into the break.

In the third quarter, Nix threw a four-yard touchdown pass to running back Jaleel McLaughlin to extend the lead to 20-10. On the next series, Denver cornerback Riley Moss intercepted a Minshew pass for a second takeaway.

Nix later scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to make it 27-10. Following another Surtain interception, Nix threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Reynolds to extend the lead to 34-10.

Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah scored on a one-yard run later in the fourth quarter to make it 34-18 following a successful two-point conversion. The Raiders failed to score again and the Broncos later ran out the clock to secure a convincing win.

Nix had a heated moment with coach Sean Payton in the third quarter, but that didn’t stop the rookie from having the best game of his career. Nix threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a score, marking the first multi-touchdown game of his young career.

On the injury front, Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter and was replaced by Matt Peart. Denver center Luke Wattenberg also suffered an ankle injury in the second half.

Up next for the Broncos is another home game against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) in Week 6.

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Broncos inactives: TE Greg Dulcich won’t play vs. Raiders

Broncos inactives vs. Raiders today: QB Zach Wilson*, WR Devaughn Vele, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, TE Greg Dulcich and DL Eyioma Uwazurike.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of five inactive players for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, tight end Greg Dulcich, wide receiver Devaughn Vele, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike are inactive today.

With Dulcich a healthy scratch, tight end Lucas Krull is set to make his 2024 debut today.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster. Wilson can play if both Nix and Stidham are injured.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Raiders. They will be reactivated on Monday.

Broncos inactives

  1. QB Zach Wilson*
  2. WR Devaughn Vele
  3. CB Kris Abrams-Draine
  4. TE Greg Dulcich
  5. DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Elsewhere on the roster front, Denver elevated linebacker Levelle Bailey from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. Bailey will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox. The Broncos are considered favorites at home this week.

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Broncos’ 53-man roster for Sunday’s game vs. Raiders

This is what the Broncos’ 53-man roster looks like going into Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

The Denver Broncos have set their 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Broncos placed running back Tyler Badie (back) on injured reserve on Saturday, ruling him out for at least four games. His spot will likely be filled next week when fellow running back Audric Estime (ankle) is eligible to return from IR.

NFL teams can also elevate two players from the practice squad each week. This week, Denver elevated linebacker Levelle Bailey.

Following those moves, here’s a look at Denver’s updated 53-man roster for their Week 5 showdown with the Raiders today.

Denver Broncos 53-man roster

Position Name Number
QB Bo Nix 10
QB Jarrett Stidham 8
QB Zach Wilson 4
RB Javonte Williams 33
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 38
RB Blake Watson 25
FB Michael Burton  20
FB/TE Nate Adkins 45
TE Greg Dulcich 80
TE Adam Trautman 82
TE Lucas Krull 85
WR Courtland Sutton 14
WR Marvin Mims 19
WR Josh Reynolds 11
WR Troy Franklin 16
WR Devaughn Vele 17
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey 84
OT Garett Bolles 72
OT Frank Crum 73
OT Alex Palczewski 63
OL Matt Peart 79
G/C Quinn Meinerz 77
G Ben Powers 74
C/G Luke Wattenberg 60
C/G Alex Forsyth 54
DE Zach Allen 99
DE John Franklin-Myers 98
DL D.J. Jones 93
DL Malcolm Roach 97
DL Eyioma Uwazurike 96
DL Jordan Jackson 94
OLB Jonathon Cooper 0
OLB Nik Bonitto 15
OLB Jonah Elliss 52
OLB Dondrea Tillman 92
ILB Cody Barton 55
ILB Justin Strnad 40
ILB Kristian Welch 57
ILB Levelle Bailey 56
CB Pat Surtain 2
CB Ja’Quan McMillian 29
CB Riley Moss 21
CB Levi Wallace 39
CB Kris Abrams-Draine 31
CB Tremon Smith 1
DB Devon Key 26
DB Keidron Smith 43
S Brandon Jones 22
S P.J. Locke 6
S JL Skinner 34
K Wil Lutz 3
P Riley Dixon 9
LS Mitchell Fraboni 48

With a 53-man roster and a 17-player practice squad, Denver has 70 players under contract. Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox.

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Broncos worked out 2 defensive backs on Thursday

The Broncos worked out defensive backs Marquise Blair and Alex Johnson on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos brought in a pair of defensive backs for workouts on Thursday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson).

The Broncos hosted Marquise Blair and Alex Johnson on a tryout basis. As of the time of this writing, neither defensive back has been signed.

Blair (6-1, 196 pounds) entered the league as a second-round pick out of Utah with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. He spent the first three years of his career in Seattle, totaling 49 tackles and three pass breakups in 22 games (three starts) from 2019-2021.

After being waived by the Seahawks in 2022, Blair played in three games with the Carolina Panthers before later joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He returned to Seattle this summer and spent part of the season the Seahawks’ practice squad before being released on Sept. 24. Blair is a safety who can also play as a slot cornerback.

Johnson (6-0, 185 pounds) is a rookie out of UCLA who spent time with the New York Giants this summer. He is a nickel cornerback who spent six seasons at the college level. Johnson grabbed five interceptions and broke up three passes in his final season with the Bruins last fall.

Broncos worked out two players

  1. DB Marquise Blair (Utah)
  2. DB Alex Johnson (UCLA)

The 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad are both full, so if the Broncos add a defensive back, they will need to make room on the team with a corresponding roster move.

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Karl Mecklenburg among ex-Broncos players snubbed by Hall of Fame voters

Karl Mecklenburg, Louis Wright, Lionel Taylor and eight other Broncos players were snubbed by Hall of Fame voters in the senior category.

Karl Mecklenburg and 10 other former Denver Broncos players were named senior candidates for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class last month. Voters have since narrowed the pool of 183 nominees down to 60 candidates, and no former Broncos players advanced in the voting.

Mecklenburg, linebacker Tom Jackson, safety Dennis Smith, wide receiver Lionel Taylor, returner Rick Upchurch, cornerback Louis Wright, receiver Bob Scarpitto, defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry, running back Sammy Winder, defensive lineman Lyle Alzado and defensive end Rich Jackson will all have to wait at least another year for a chance to reach Canton.

There is still a chance that the Broncos could be represented in the 2025 class. In addition to the 11 senior nominees, Denver also had 19 modern-era players nominated this year, and Mike Shanahan is expected to be a top candidate in the coach category.

Broncos candidates for Hall of Fame

  1. Coach Mike Shanahan (expected)
  2. WR Rod Smith
  3. C Tom Nalen
  4. K Jason Elam
  5. G Mark Schlereth
  6. LB Bill Romanowski
  7. DL Neil Smith
  8. WR Demaryius Thomas
  9. CB Aqib Talib
  10. WR Wes Welker
  11. RB Clinton Portis
  12. WR Brandon Marshall
  13. RB Glyn Milburn
  14. CB Dré Bly
  15. TE Vernon Davis
  16. DL Jamal Williams
  17. LB Keith Brooking
  18. RB Jamaal Charles
  19. DL Ted Washington
  20. DL Simeon Rice

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will trim the list of nominees this month before announcing semifinalists and finalists later in the fall. The 2025 class will be announced before Super Bowl LVIX next year.

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Broncos’ updated 17-player practice squad with new running back

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated 17-player practice squad following the addition of RB Salvon Ahmed.

The Denver Broncos signed running back Salvon Ahmed and released wide receiver Kaden Davis from the practice squad on Tuesday.

The Broncos brought in Ahmed to provide more depth at running back after Tyler Badie suffered a back injury against the New York Jets in Week 4.

The 17-player practice squad and 53-man roster are now both full.

The NFL’s standard practice squad size limit is 16 players, but there’s an exception that allows an extra international player to not count against the limit. For Denver, Australian tight end Thomas Yassmin is an exception, giving the Broncos a 17-player practice squad.

So here’s the full list of 17 players on the squad after Tuesday’s moves.

Broncos 17-player practice squad

  1. RB Salvon Ahmed
  2. WR Michael Bandy
  3. WR David Sills
  4. TE Donald Parham
  5. TE Thomas Yassmin
  6. OL Will Sherman
  7. OL Nick Garguilo
  8. OL Calvin Throckmorton
  9. DT Jordan Miller
  10. DL Matt Henningsen
  11. OLB Andrew Farmer
  12. LB Kwon Alexander
  13. LB Zach Cunningham
  14. LB Levelle Bailey
  15. CB Reese Taylor
  16. DB Quinton Newsome
  17. DB Tanner McCalister

Two players can be elevated from the practice squad each week.

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Broncos add running back to practice squad after Tyler Badie injury

Following Tyler Badie’s back injury, the Broncos have added more depth at running back by signing Salvon Ahmed to their practice squad.

After losing Tyler Badie to a back injury against the New York Jets on Sunday, the Denver Broncos are adding more depth at running back.

The Broncos have signed Salvon Ahmed to their practice squad, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via multiple reports).

Ahmed (5-11, 197 pounds) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Washington with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He spent the last four years with the Miami Dolphins, rushing for 593 yards and five touchdowns in 38 career games (four starts). The 25-year-old running back also has 40 career receptions for 274 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Ahmed joins a backfield that already includes Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime (currently on IR), Blake Watson and Badie.

To make room for Ahmed on the 17-player practice squad, Denver released wide receiver Kaden Davis, who previously joined the team on Sept. 11.

The Broncos also worked out former Nothern Colorado running back Elijah Dotson, but the team opted to sign Ahmed instead. Denver will hold its first practice of the week on Wednesday, which will be followed by the team’s first injury report of the week with an update on Badie’s status.

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Injury updates for Broncos RB Tyler Badie after Jets game

Broncos RB Javonte Williams said he expects Tyler Badie to be “all right.” Denver coach Sean Payton would not provide an update.

Story updates: Broncos RB Tyler Badie is “doing OK,” a source told the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson. Another source told the Denver Post‘s Paker Gabriel that Badie is “going to be alright.” Badie “has movement in all extremities” and is expected to be fine, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. The running back flew back to Denver on a commercial flight with a member of the team’s medical staff on Sunday, according to KOA Radio’s Brandon Krisztal. After being evaluated at a hospital in New York, Badie was back in Colorado shortly after the team. Badie is a candidate to go on injured reserve, but “there is a chance” he could return later this season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday that Badie is doing better but is still being evaluated. See our original post below.


Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie was ruled out in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after suffering a back injury in the first quarter.

Badie was hit from behind by Jets linebacker Quincy Williams and the running back fumbled the ball on his way to the ground. Badie then went to the sideline and layed down and was later put on a backboard and then loaded onto a cart and taken into the locker room.

Following an eventual 10-9 win, Javonte Williams said Broncos running backs coach Lou Ayeni had told him Badie would be OK.

“Coach Lou told us that he would be all right, so I don’t think it’s really anything (serious),” Williams said, via the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson.

After the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton said “No update” when asked about Badie’s status. A follow-up question asked if Badie would travel with the team back to Denver and Payton once again said “No update.”

Just before the end of Payton’s press conference, a reporter (it sounded like it might have been ESPN’s Jeff Legwold) asked a third time about Badie. The coach then had this exchange:

Reporter: “I’m just making sure — ”

Payton: “Making sure of what?”

Reporter: “If Badie — [will travel back with the team]”

Payton: “I said, I’m not [giving injury updates]

Reporter: “I’m just giving you an opportunity.”

Payton: “No, I don’t need an opportunity at my press conference. I’m good. I don’t want, I don’t want to discuss injury [updates], is that OK?”

Reporter: “I just wanted to see if he’s going on the plane?”

Payton: “Yeah, we’ll see. Is that fair?”

Reporter: “More than fair.”

Payton: “All right, we’ll see.”

Payton has repeatedly made it clear in the past that he does not like to discuss injury updates, but when a player suffers what appears to be a scary injury and is carted into the locker room, it doesn’t seem like too much to ask of a coach to give fans some kind of update on the player’s status.

Williams said after the game that he believed Badie is “going to be all right.” Fans will hope that’s the case while we wait for further updates.

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Broncos inactives: Devaughn Vele won’t play vs. Jets

Broncos inactives today: Zach Wilson*, Devaughn Vele, Blake Watson, Kris Abrams-Draine, JL Skinner, Lucas Krull and Eyioma Uwazurike.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, wide receiver Devaughn Vele, running back Blake Watson, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, safety JL Skinner (ankle), tight end Lucas Krull and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike are inactive today.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster. Wilson can play if both Nix and Stidham are injured.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Jets. They will be reactivated on Monday.

Broncos inactives

  1. QB Zach Wilson*
  2. WR Devaughn Vele
  3. RB Blake Watson
  4. CB Kris Abrams-Draine
  5. DB JL Skinner
  6. TE Lucas Krull
  7. DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Elsewhere on the roster front, Denver elevated linebacker Levelle Bailey and defensive back Tanner McCalister from the practice squad to the game-day roster. Bailey and McCalister will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). New York is considered a home favorite against Denver this week.

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