Nine ex-Broncos players will be involved in the NFL’s conference championship games this weekend.
The NFL’s conference title games this weekend will feature nine former Denver Broncos players.
First up is the NFC Championship game at 1:00 p.m. MT on Sunday, Jan. 26. That matchup features the Washington Commanders taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders have backup quarterback Jeff Driskel and international defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi (on reserve).
After that, the AFC Championship game is set for 4:30 p.m. MT on Sunday, Jan. 26. That game will feature the Buffalo Bills facing the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City’s offense features running back Samaje Perine and receiver/returner Montrell Washington (on the practice squad).
The Bills have quite a collection of former Broncos, headlined by pass rusher Von Miller. Buffalo also employs punter Sam Martin, receiver KJ Hamler (practice squad), safety Kareem Jackson (practice squad) and receiver Jalen Virgil (practice squad).
No matter which two teams advance on Sunday, at least two ex-Broncos will suit up for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in Feb. 9.
Von Miller is one of four former Broncos who now play for the Bills.
When the Denver Broncos face the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, they will play against Von Miller, who helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.
Miller is the most notable ex-Denver player on Buffalo’s roster, but he’s not alone. The Bills also have three other ex-Broncos on their practice squad.
Buffalo safety Kareem Jackson has appeared in two games this season, recording four tackles. He spent 2019-2023 in Denver.
Bills wide receiver KJ Hamler is yet to appear in a regular season game with Buffalo, but he played in 23 games with the Broncos from 2020-2022.
Fellow receiver Jalen Virgil has dressed for seven games with the Bills in 2024, but he is yet to record a reception. He has played 83 snaps on special teams this season, returning one kickoff for 21 yards. Virgil played in Denver from 2022-2023.
With the team’s success, specifically on offense led by quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, they are now in a position to make more history:
Most players with a receiving TD in a season
Oct 20, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs after making a catch with wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) running alongside in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
With Tyrell Shavers’ long catch and run for a touchdown in Week 17, the Bills tied the NFL record for most players with a receiving touchdown in a season.
The following players caught a touchdown in 2024: Khalil Shakir; Amari Cooper; Keon Coleman; Mack Hollins; Curtis Samuel; Tyrell Shavers; James Cook; Ty Johnson; Ray Davis; Dalton Kincaid; Dawson Knox; Quintin Morris; Josh Allen.
With the Bills slated to play their backups for much of the Week 18 game, they have a good chance of breaking this record. Some players who haven’t had much of an opportunity this year will have the chance to be an NFL record-breaker.
Some potential practice squad guys who could find the endzone in Week 18 are TE Zach Davidson, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR KJ Hamler, and WR Jalen Virgil. If FB Reggie Gilliam scores his first TD of the year that would break the record as well. And, there’s always the chance an offensive linemen could catch one. Josh Allen caught a touchdown this year so nothing can be ruled out.
First team to pass and rush for 30 TDs in a season
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On the season, the Bills have compiled 33 rushing touchdowns and 29 passing touchdowns. No team in NFL history has had 30 of each in a season. The Bills can be the first to do so by throwing one more touchdown pass, and it could set this record as well as break the record above in one play.
Mack Hollins leads the team with five receiving touchdowns while James Cook leads the team with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Most wins in a regular season in franchise history
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The Bills have never had 14 wins in a regular season in team history. A win over the Patriots in Week 18 would cement this squad in its team history.
The Bills have now had five years in team history with 13 regular season wins: 1990; 1991; 2020; 2022; 2024.
Backups will likely see the majority of snaps in the game, but they could still etch their spot in team and NFL history with a strong performance.
The Bills signed ex-Broncos wide receiver Jalen Virgil to their practice squad.
The Buffalo Bills have signed wide receiver Jalen Virgil to their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Virgil (6-0, 210 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State with the Denver Broncos in 2022. He dressed for nine games as a rookie, hauling in two receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Virgil then missed the 2023 season with a knee injury.
Virgil competed in a crowded wide receiver room this summer and was ultimately cut when the Broncos set their 53-man roster in August. He then joined Buffalo’s practice squad. Virgil was promoted to the Bills’ active roster on Nov. 8 and he appeared in six games before being cut on Dec. 14. He now returns to Buffalo on the team’s practice squad.
We’ve signed WR Jalen Virgil and OL Will Clapp to the practice squad.
DE Kameron Cline and DT Branson Deen have been released from the practice squad.
Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, offensive lineman Zack Johnson worked out for the San Francisco 49ers this week and receiver/returner Isaiah McKenzie signed to the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.
A group of former Broncos including Kareem Jackson, KJ Hamler, Caden Sterns and Tim Patrick have landed on NFL practice squads this week.
After the dust settled following NFL roster cuts, clubs have started filling their practice squads. So far, 20 former Denver Broncos players have signed with practice squads this week, including ex-players from past years.
So far, only two players cut by Denver this week — offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs (New England Patriots) and running back Samaje Perine (Kansas City Chiefs) — have landed on an active roster.
Of the 22 players that were waived by Denver, only one — offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs — was claimed. Jacobs was picked up by the New England Patriots on Wednesday.
Another veteran — center Sam Mustipher — joined the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad. Four other ex-Denver players who were waived have also landed on practice squads, and the Broncos have re-signed 15 players to their own practice squad (it will be 16 soon).
Here’s the full list of players cut by Denver who have joined new clubs this week:
The Broncos wanted to re-sign WRs Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil but lost them to the Steelers and Bills, respectively.
The Denver Broncos opted to carry five wide receivers on their 53-man roster this year, which left Tim Patrick, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson and Jalen Virgil among their roster cuts this week.
Johnson signed with the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Virgil signed with the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. Denver wanted to bring back both receivers.
The Broncos could not top the Steelers offering a reunion with wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni and quarterback Russell Wilson. Denver also “badly wanted” to bring back Virgil, but he believed Buffalo offered a clearer path to the active roster.
After missing out on Johnson and Virgil, the Broncos added Humphrey, David Sills and Michael Bandy to their practice squad. Our practice squad tracker shows two spots left for Denver. The Broncos will likely want to add another offensive lineman, and linebacker Jonas Griffith is also still available. We are tracking all the team’s signings on this page.
Courtland Sutton is back as the team’s No. 1 receiver and the team added Josh Reynolds during free agency this year. Troy Franklin (who might be a healthy scratch this year) and Devaughn Vele were added during the draft, and Pro Bowl returner Marvin Mims is back.
That’s five wide receivers. If the Broncos plan to carry six, Lil’Jordan Humphrey is likely safe after he was held out of the team’s preseason finale on Sunday. Michael Bandy also impressed this summer, but he seems more likely to end up on the practice squad.
So with cuts still happening, Denver’s WR room appears to be Sutton, Reynolds, Mims, Vele, Humphrey and Franklin. We’ll see if that ends up actually being the final six.
We are tracking all of the team’s roster moves on Broncos Wire.
The first of those 30 cuts was confirmed Tuesday morning when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the team has waived wide receiver Jalen Virgil. One down, 29 to go.
Virgil (6-0, 210 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State with the Broncos in 2022. He dressed for nine games as a rookie, hauling in two receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown.
Virgil missed all of last season on injured reserve with a torn meniscus. He is healthy now, but Denver has a crowded wide receiver room. The Broncos are also looking to move on from Tim Patrick, either by trade or release.
Virgil has impressive speed and experience as a returner so if he clears waivers, Denver will likely try to re-sign him to the practice squad.
We are tracking all of the team’s roster moves on Broncos Wire.
Before roster cuts begin, could the Broncos look to trade a wide receiver?
When the Denver Broncos begin roster cuts next week, coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton will have some very tough decisions to make at wide receiver.
There’s not room for all of the receivers on Denver’s 53-man roster, and Payton has said some of them might end up playing for other teams in 2024. The Broncos could make roster cuts easier if they’re able to trade one or two of their receivers in the coming days. Here are five candidates to keep an eye on.
1. Courtland Sutton: He is the team’s best WR and coming off a 10-touchdown season, but Sutton has drawn interest from teams over the last two years. Sutton has one more year left on his contract after this season. If Denver’s not planning to give Sutton an extension, the rebuilding Broncos could trade him before he enters his age-29 season.
2. Tim Patrick: Denver seems unlikely to draw much interest for a 30-year-old Patrick when he’s coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries, but Patrick was featured in the team’s second preseason game last week. Perhaps the Broncos were showing other clubs that Patrick is healthy.
3. Jalen Virgil: He missed all of last season with a meniscus injury, but Virgil has had a good summer. With the NFL switching to an XFL-style kickoff format this year, Virgil’s ability to return kicks increases his value.
4. Brandon Johnson: He ranked second on the team last season with four touchdown catches. Johnson would be a capable WR4 or WR5, but there might not be room for him on Denver’s roster.
5. Lil’Jordan Humphrey: He had a modest campaign last fall with 13 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns, but Humphrey has the size (6-4, 225 pounds) and experience (eight starts last year) to serve as a capable reserve receiver in the NFL.
We will track each Denver cut and any potential trades on Broncos Wire.
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