Broncos could get reinforcements from injured reserve this week

The Broncos have several players eligible to return from injured reserve and the physically unable to perform list this week.

Reinforcements could be on the way for the Denver Broncos this week.

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) and running back Tyler Badie (back) are both eligible to return from IR, and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) are eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list.

This afternoon is the deadline for Turner-Yell to be activated to the 53-man roster. If he is not activated, DTY will spend the rest of the season on reserve. Sanders has one more week remaining on his 21-day window to return.

Here’s a look at the team’s IR/PUP players going into Week 12.

Broncos eligible to return from IR/PUP

  1. LB Drew Sanders: Eligible to return since Week 5
  2. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: Eligible to return since Week 5
  3. RB Tyler Badie: Eligible to return since Week 9
  4. WR Josh Reynolds: Eligible to return since Week 10

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending injured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

Denver linebacker Kwon Alexander and fullback Michael Burton are also out of practice squad elevations, and they seem likely to end up back on the 53-man roster at some point this season. The Broncos will have to make some tough decisions to make room for returning players in the coming weeks.

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Broncos’ updated 17-player practice squad after roster moves

Michael Burton up, Keidron Smith down. Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated practice squad.

The Denver Broncos made a change to their practice squad this week.

The first domino fell on Tuesday when the Broncos waived safety Keidron Smith from the active roster. Denver then promoted fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Wednesday.

After he cleared waivers, Smith re-joined the team on the practice squad on Thursday. Burton and Smith essentially swapped places this week.

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 the recent moves.

Broncos 17-player practice squad

  1. RB Blake Watson
  2. WR Michael Bandy
  3. WR David Sills
  4. WR A.T. Perry
  5. TE Donald Parham
  6. TE Thomas Yassmin
  7. OT Cam Fleming
  8. OL Nick Garguilo
  9. DT Jordan Miller
  10. DL Matt Henningsen
  11. OLB Andrew Farmer
  12. LB Kwon Alexander
  13. LB Zach Cunningham
  14. CB Reese Taylor
  15. DB Quinton Newsome
  16. DB Tanner McCalister
  17. DB Keidron Smith 

Two players can be elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week.

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Broncos make first of several roster moves on deck this week

The Broncos waived safety Keidron Smith on Tuesday. More roster moves are on deck this week.

The Denver Broncos have made the first of at least two roster moves on deck this week ahead of their game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Broncos waived safety Keidron Smith on Tuesday, the team announced. Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) is a 25-year-old defensive back who made the 53-man roster after impressing during preseason this summer. He dressed for eight games this fall, totaling six tackles. Smith played 11 snaps on defense and 107 snaps on special teams before being waived.

Denver now has four safeties remaining on the active roster: Brandon Jones, P.J. Locke, Devon Key and JL Skinner. Delarrin Turner-Yell is currently on the physically unable to perform list, but he returned to practice last week. Turner-Yell will have one more week of eligibility to return to the 53-man roster.

Broncos fullback Michael Burton and linebacker Kwon Alexander are both out of practice squad elevations, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them promoted to the active roster to take Smith’s old spot. If he clears waivers, Denver will undoubtedly attempt to re-sign Smith to the practice squad.

In addition to Burton, Alexander and Turner-Yell, wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger), linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and running back Tyler Badie (back) are also candidates to return to the 53-man roster in the coming weeks. Denver will have to make room for the returning players, and Smith was the first domino to fall.

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Broncos could get reinforcements from injured reserve this week

The Broncos have two players eligible to return from injured reserve and two players eligible to return from the PUP list.

Denver Broncos center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) returned from injured reserve last week and immediately returned to the team’s starting lineup. More reinforcements could be on the way this week.

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) and running back Tyler Badie (back) are both eligible to return from IR, and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) are eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list.

Turner-Yell returned to practice two weeks ago and Sanders returned to practice last week. Once an IR or PUP player returns to practice, they have a 21-day window to be activated to the 53-man roster.

We’ll see if Denver activates anyone ahead of Week 11.

Broncos eligible to return from IR/PUP

  1. LB Drew Sanders: Eligible to return since Week 5
  2. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: Eligible to return since Week 5
  3. RB Tyler Badie: Eligible to return since Week 9
  4. WR Josh Reynolds: Eligible to return since Week 10

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending injured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

Denver linebacker Kwon Alexander and fullback Michael Burton are also out of practice squad elevations, and they seem likely to end up back on the 53-man roster at some point this season. The Broncos will have to make some tough decisions to make room for returning players in the coming weeks.

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Predicting 14 roster moves Broncos could make in second half of season

The Broncos have seven players who could be returning to the 53-man roster soon. Here’s how they could make room for them.

The Denver Broncos could be getting a flurry of reinforcements in the coming weeks.

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) and center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) are now eligible to return from injured reserve, safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) returned to practice last week and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) is “close to returning.” His timeline is uncertain, but running back Tyler Badie (back) is also eligible to return from IR.

Meanwhile, linebacker Kwon Alexander is out of practice squad elevations and coach Sean Payton hinted last week that Alexander will eventually end up on the 53-man roster. Denver also bumped fullback Michael Burton down to the practice squad last week. Burton can be elevated one more time. After that, he will likely be a candidate to return to the active roster as well.

Reynolds, Alexander and Wattenberg are presumably candidates to all return to the 53-man roster this week. Sanders, Burton, Turner-Yell and Badie might also return at some point in the future.

The Broncos don’t have to make room for all of them right away — new injuries could open spots in the coming weeks — but the team will have to make some roster decisions, soon.

Denver opened up one spot by trading outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. The Broncos could open another spot by bumping offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton down to the practice squad.

Denver could open three more spots if they traded tight end Greg Dulcich, cornerback Damarri Mathis and quarterback Zach Wilson ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. If they aren’t traded, Dulcich and Mathis might be candidates to attempt to get down to the practice squad. And given Payton’s recent frustrations with the team’s receivers, even Lil’Jordan Humphrey could be in danger of losing his spot on the active roster.

So with as many as seven players potentially returning to the active roster in the second half of the season, here are predictions on how the Broncos could make room for them. Keep in mind that these are projections — this is not a report of what the team will do. Rather, it’s a projection of what the team could do.

  1. WR Josh Reynolds activated from IR
  2. OLB Baron Browning traded (confirmed)
  3. C Luke Wattenberg activated from IR
  4. OL Calvin Throckmorton cut from 53
  5. LB Kwon Alexander promoted to 53
  6. TE Greg Dulcich traded or cut
  7. LB Drew Sanders activated from PUP
  8. CB Damarri Mathis traded or cut
  9. FB Michael Burton activated to 53
  10. QB Zach Wilson traded
  11. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell activated from IR
  12. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey demoted to PS
  13. RB Tyler Badie activated from IR
  14. Future player placed on IR

Denver seems likely to make at least a few moves this week. Stay tuned.

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Broncos’ 53-man roster for Ravens game in Week 9

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated 53-man roster ahead of their game against the Ravens in Week 9.

The Denver Broncos have set their 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

NFL teams can elevate two players from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week. Denver called up linebacker Kwon Alexander and fullback Michael Burton this week. The Broncos also promoted offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton to the active roster this week.

Here’s a look at the updated active roster following those moves.

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 Audric Estime 23
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 Troy Franklin 16
WR Devaughn Vele 17
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey 84
OT Garett Bolles 72
OT Mike McGlinchey 69
OT Frank Crum 73
OT Alex Palczewski 63
OL Matt Peart 79
G/C Quinn Meinerz 77
G Ben Powers 74
C/G Alex Forsyth 54
OL Calvin Throckmorton 76
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 Baron Browning 5
OLB Jonah Elliss 52
OLB Dondrea Tillman 92
ILB Cody Barton 55
ILB Justin Strnad 40
ILB Levelle Bailey 56
ILB Kwon Alexander 12
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
CB Damarri Mathis 27
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, plus several players on injured reserve.

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Recapping the 5 roster moves Broncos made ahead of Ravens game

Calvin Throckmorton was promoted to the 53-man roster and Michael Burton and Kwon Alexander were elevated to the game-day roster for Week 9.

The Denver Broncos made five roster moves ahead of their showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, including three transactions involving the same player.

First, the Broncos released fullback Michael Burton from the 53-man roster on Friday. Denver then promoted offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton from the practice squad to the active roster, filling Burton’s old spot.

The Broncos brought Burton back on Saturday, signing him to the practice squad. The fullback and offensive linemen essentially swapped spots this week.

Denver then elevated Burton and linebacker Kwon Alexander from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 9. Burton and Alexander will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Broncos roster moves

  1. Cut FB Michael Burton from 53-man roster
  2. Promoted OL Calvin Throckmorton to 53-man roster
  3. Signed FB Michael Burton to practice squad
  4. Elevated LB Kwon Alexander to game-day roster
  5. Elvataed FB Michael Burton to game-day roster

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV broadcast map). Playing on the road, Denver is considered a big underdog in Week 9.

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Broncos elevate 2 players from practice squad for Ravens game

The Broncos have elevated LB Kwon Alexander and FB Michael Burton from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 9.

The Denver Broncos are calling up some reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Broncos elevated linebacker Kwon Alexander and fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This will mark Alexander’s third and final practice squad elevation. He’s likely a candidate to be fully promoted to the 53-man roster next week. This is Burton’s second practice squad elevation in 2024.

Alexander rotates with Justin Strand at linebacker next to Cody Barton. Burton was cut from the active roster on Friday and re-signed to the practice squad on Saturday before being elevated to the game-day roster. He’ll continue serving as the team’s fullback.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV broadcast map). Playing on the road, Denver is considered a big underdog in Week 9.

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Sean Payton hints linebacker could join Broncos’ 53-man roster next week

Kwon Alexander can be elevated from the practice squad one more time. After that, he’s a likely candidate to be fully promoted to the 53.

The Denver Broncos may have found their Alex Singleton replacement.

After losing Singleton to a season-ending torn ACL, the Broncos signed two veteran linebackers — Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham — to their practice squad. Alexander has been elevated to the game-day roster in each of the team’s last two games.

Alexander (13 snaps) did not end up playing as much as Justin Strnad (37 snaps) last week, but it appears that Denver could be ramping him up for a bigger role.

“We go back and forth based on what our package is,” coach Sean Payton said of the linebacker rotation. “So a lot of it has to do with who we’re playing. A lot of it has to do with, ‘What’s our personnel? Are we in base? Are we in penny?’ and then, ‘Who are we playing?’ relative to those decisions.”

Alexander can be elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster one more time without having to clear waivers. Payton was asked this week if the linebacker is a candidate to eventually be fully promoted to the 53-man roster.

“Yes,” Payton said. “In other words, we brought in two veteran linebackers. The good news is that decisions isn’t now, but we brought in both those players because they have a lot of experience. They’ve played at a real high level, and they give us some flexibility.”

After Alexander uses his final elevation (presumably this week), he will likely be a top candidate to get activated to the 53-man roster. That transaction could happen as soon as next week.

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Broncos’ 53-man roster for Panthers game in Week 8

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated 53-man roster ahead of their game against the Panthers in Week 8.

The Denver Broncos have set their 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers at Empower Field at Mile High.

NFL teams can elevate two players from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week. Denver called up linebacker Kwon Alexander and guard Calvin Throckmorton this week.

Here’s a look at the updated active roster following those moves.

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 Audric Estime 23
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 Troy Franklin 16
WR Devaughn Vele 17
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey 84
OT Garett Bolles 72
OT Mike McGlinchey 69
OT Frank Crum 73
OT Alex Palczewski 63
OL Matt Peart 79
G/C Quinn Meinerz 77
G Ben Powers 74
C/G Alex Forsyth 54
OL Calvin Throckmorton 76
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 Baron Browning 5
OLB Jonah Elliss 52
OLB Dondrea Tillman 92
ILB Cody Barton 55
ILB Justin Strnad 40
ILB Levelle Bailey 56
ILB Kwon Alexander 12
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
CB Damarri Mathis 27
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, plus several players on injured reserve.

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