Tag: Devaughn Vele

WATCH: Broncos QB Bo Nix throws 2nd TD vs. Chargers

Marvin Mims puts them in position and Bo Nix connects with Devaughn Vele to give the Broncos a 21-10 lead over the Chargers!

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw a six-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Devaughn Vele in the second quarter of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

The score was set up by a 54-yard catch and run from Marvin Mims:

Following the score, the Broncos lead the Chargers 21-10.

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Sean Payton compares Broncos WR Devaughn Vele to Marques Colston

The next Marques Colston? Broncos coach Sean Payton likes what he’s seen from Devaughn Vele this season.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele is quickly emerging as one of quarterback Bo Nix’s favorite targets, hauling in 14 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown over the last three weeks.

Following Vele’s six-catch, 80-yard performance in a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Broncos coach Sean Payton was full of praise for the rookie during his Monday conference call with reporters.

“The progress with Vele is — sometimes as a coach, you feel like you’re stopping the progress by not getting them touches,” Payton told reporters. “I don’t want to say we’re guilty as coaches, but often times afraid to play the rookies. Very quickly we’ve seen his growth. So he’s been really good. The strengths for him certainly are his hands. You guys saw it in camp. He has strong hands in traffic. He’s a guy that plays well over the middle. He reminds me a lot of Marques Colston, who I had in New Orleans for 10 or 11 years.

“In our staff meeting 20 minutes ago, I said, ‘We have to continue to find touches for him.’ You have a big target — I mentioned this to you guys — he’s 6-4, but he has a short inseam. He’s someone who can get in and out of cuts. I’m glad we’re not getting towards the end of the season and not knowing about some of these rookies.”

Vele was picked by the Broncos in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft out of Utah. He has hauled in 32 receptions for 361 yards and 18 first downs through eight games this fall. Colston was picked by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft out of Hofstra. He ranks first in New Orleans history for receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759) and touchdowns (72).

Getting that kind of praise from Payton is notable, and Vele’s role will likely continue to grow in the final five games of the season.

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Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 29-19 win over Raiders

Quinn Meinerz (94.0) was the Broncos’ best player on Sunday, followed by CB Riley Moss (90.5). View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 12 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 12 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • OL Quinn Meinerz: 94.0
  • OT Garett Bolles: 79.8
  • WR Devaughn Vele: 77.5
  • QB Bo Nix: 75.5
  • C Luke Wattenberg: 70.0

A good day overall for the offensive line and another solid performance from QB Bo Nix and WR Devaughn Vele. WR Courtland Sutton (67.8) received the sixth-best grade on offense, followed by tackle Mike McGlinchey (65.5).

Best Defensive Players 

  • CB Riley Moss: 90.5
  • CB Pat Surtain: 83.0
  • DB Brandon Jones: 76.9
  • DB P.J. Locke: 72.3
  • CB Damarri Mathis: 71.1

Riley Moss left with a knee injury but played well before that. Brandon Jones had a game-changing interception. If you don’t count Mathis, who played just two defensive snaps, the fifth-best defender on the day was pass rusher Nik Bonitto (71.0).

Worst Offensive Players 

  • TE Adam Trautman: 43.5
  • OL Matt Peart: 50.3
  • RB Javonte Williams: 50.3
  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 50.3
  • G Ben Powers: 51.9

TE Lucas Krull (52.9) received the sixth-worst grade on offense. Denver would be wise to have TE and RB listed among the team’s top needs on offense in the offseason.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • DL Jordan Jackson: 33.6
  • OLB Jonah Elliss: 35.4
  • LB Levelle Bailey: 37.0
  • CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 37.8
  • LB Justin Strnad: 43.5

With Alex Singleton coming back from a torn ACL at 30 years old, the Broncos should target an inside linebacker in 2025 as well.

Special Teams 

  • ST Jonah Elliss: 72.6
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 65.1
  • R Marvin Mims: 60.5
  • K Wil Lutz: 76.5 (FG) 53.9 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 67.9

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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Broncos’ depth chart for Week 12 vs. Raiders

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth chart going into Sunday’s against the Raiders.

The Denver Broncos have released their depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

This week, Denver elevated linebacker Zach Cunningham and offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 12.

Following those moves, here’s a look at the team’s updated depth chart going into the Raiders game.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers Calvin Throckmorton Nick Gargiulo
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth Nick Gargiulo
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski Nick Gargiulo
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Greg Dulcich Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Zach Cunningham
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV map). Despite playing on the road, the Broncos are considered favorites this week.

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Devaughn Vele has impressed Broncos: ‘His future is bright’

Broncos WR Devaughn Vele is emerging as a key receiver in Sean Payton’s offense. “His future is bright,” Courtland Sutton said.

Devaughn Vele is quietly emerging as a key wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Through seven games this season, the 26-year-old rookie out of Utah has totaled 26 receptions for 281 yards, 14 first downs and one touchdown. He has seemingly emerged as quarterback Bo Nix’s second-favorite target behind Courtland Sutton in recent weeks.

“I think part of what was holding Devaughn Vele back was us,” coach Sean Payton said after the team’s win against the Atlanta Falcons. “In other words, Josh [Reynolds] was getting a lot of reps. It’s sometimes just giving the player more opportunities. I think one of the things he does well for someone who’s 6-4, he’s low cut.

“He has these like 32-inch inseams and a long torso. So when he comes out of his breaks, you don’t feel a leggy player. You feel a sudden player, and that’s a good trait for a tall receiver. Then the other things is he has extremely strong hands in traffic. He just keeps improving, but part of that is he’s getting more opportunities.”

Reynolds is eligible to return from injured reserve this week, but Vele seems poised to continue getting snaps after making the most of his opportunities while Reynolds was sidelined.

“I was just talking with Vele and I am so happy for him,” Sutton said. “When you see the young guys, especially a rookie, make that stride, you can see the writing on the wall of the opportunity being there. It’s all about stepping up to the challenge. Watching him these past couple of weeks step up to the challenge of becoming that guy on the other side, it’s been a lot of fun.

“His future is bright. It’s so early for him. We talk about it all the time, but for me, making my transition into this vet role in the room, it’s cool to be able to see the young guys step up to that role and have the success that he’s having right now.”

Denver’s top receivers have been Sutton, Vele and Lil’Jordan Humphrey during Reynolds’ absence. Following Vele’s emergence, Humphrey might be the odd man out in the rotation when Reynolds returns.

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Broncos release depth chart for Week 12 vs. Raiders

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth chart going into their game against the Raiders this week.

The Denver Broncos have released their depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

So far, there are no changes from last week, but the Broncos might make some changes to the bottom of the roster later this week.

Here’s a look at how the depth chart stands going into Week 12.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers Calvin Throckmorton
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Greg Dulcich Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Levelle Bailey
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV map). Despite playing on the road, the Broncos are considered favorites this week.

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Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from win over Falcons

Nik Bonitto (90.0) was the Broncos’ best player vs. the Falcons, followed by Quinn Meinerz (92.1) and Bo Nix (83.3). View more PFF grades.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 11 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 11 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • G Quinn Meinerz: 92.1
  • QB Bo Nix: 83.3
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 77.4
  • WR Devaughn Vele: 75.5
  • RB Javonte Williams: 73.8

Bo Nix had the best game of his career in a record-breaking performance. Denver has also found creative ways to get WR Marvin Mims (73.2) involved, and he ended the day with the sixth-best grade on offense.

Best Defensive Players 

  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 90.0
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 77.4
  • DB Devon Key: 75.3
  • CB Pat Surtain: 70.1
  • DL Zach Allen: 65.6

Nik Bonitto has now topped his 2023 sack total and he’s just one sack away from the first double-digit sack season of his career. Bonitto’s nine sacks are tied for second-most in the NFL this season.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • G Ben Powers: 51.1
  • RB Jaleel McLaughlin: 54.6
  • C Luke Wattenberg: 59.0
  • TE Adam Trautman: 59.0
  • TE Lucas Krull: 59.3

Tight end needs to be a priority position for the Broncos in the offseason. Tyler Warren would be a dream draft target.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • DL Jordan Jackson: 29.5
  • LB Levelle Bailey: 41.9
  • DL Malcolm Roach: 45.7
  • OLB Jonathon Cooper: 46.3
  • CB Riley Moss: 48.2

The Cooper and Moss grades seem a bit harsh.

Special Teams 

  • ST Devon Key: 86.2
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 77.8
  • R Marvin Mims: 61.3
  • K Wil Lutz: 68.0 (FG) 55.2 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 55.9

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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The All-22 angle of Bo Nix’s throw to Devaughn Vele is amazing

This throw from Bo Nix was incredible!

Facing a 2nd-and-7 in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix threw a 33-yard strike to wide receiver Devaughn Vele to pick up a first down.

Nix threw over a linebacker and inside a safety to deliver a perfectly-placed ball for Vele. The All-22 film became available on Monday and the behind the end zone angle is absolutely beautiful:

“We got some shell and some two-deep safety looks today which opens up the middle of the field,” Nix said after the game when asked about throwing over the middle of the field. “I feel like we have been confident with those throws all year long. Today we got through the progressions and got to some of them. Two off the top of my head was Vele over the middle between the safeties. I thought that was extremely courageous to go through there knowing you can possibly be hit.”

This is presumably one of the Vele catches that Nix referenced:

Courtland Sutton (seven receptions for 78 yards) and Vele (four receptions for 66 yards) were Nix’s favorite targets on Sunday.

“Those two are just typical of what you get from them every day,” Nix said. “They are always battling to find ways to get open. They do not care if they are going to take a hit. They are willing to go through there for the betterment of the team. Football is a tough game played by tough people. We know that we are going to have to continue to do that kind of stuff in all spaces of the field to have success. Sometimes you have to take what they give you and they were giving us some over the middle shots today.”

Here are a few more angles of Nix’s two impressive passes to Vele:

Broncos coach Sean Payton praised Nix’s impressive pass during his Monday conference call with reporters.

“There’s never been — on his part — a lack of confidence, relative to his location,” Payton said. “He’s extremely accurate, but the windows are just quicker [and] faster in our league. They’re open for a shorter period of time. I think that’s one example of many, but one example where, ‘Does he make that throw Week 1 or Week 2?’ I don’t know, but certainly we’re all getting a chance to see growth as it plays out week by week.”

Nix finished the game 28-of-33 passing (84.8%) for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has made huge strides from earlier this season and continues to make a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

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Broncos depth chart for Week 11 vs. Falcons

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated depth chart for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

After making two roster moves earlier this week, the Denver Broncos have updated their depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Broncos waived safety Keidron Smith from the 53-man roster on Tuesday. To fill Smith’s old spot on the active roster, Denver promoted fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad on Wednesday.

Smith was then elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster along with linebacker Zach Cunningham on Saturday.

Following those moves, here’s how the depth chart stands for Week 11.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers Calvin Throckmorton
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Greg Dulcich Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Zach Cunningham
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key Keidron Smith

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered slight favorites this week.

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Broncos release depth chart for Week 11 vs. Falcons

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated depth chart for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

After making two roster moves earlier this week, the Denver Broncos have updated their depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Broncos waived safety Keidron Smith from the 53-man roster on Tuesday. To fill Smith’s old spot on the active roster, Denver promoted fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad on Wednesday.

Following those moves, here’s how the depth chart stands going into Week 11. Keep in mind that more transactions could be on deck later in the week.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers Calvin Throckmorton
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Greg Dulcich Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Levelle Bailey
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered slight favorites this week.

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