The Broncos activated RB Tyler Badie (back), elevated OL Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad, and placed OL Frank Crum on the NFI list.
The Denver Broncos made three roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
First, the Broncos elevated running back Tyler Badie (back) from injured reserve to the 53-man roster. Badie had a Jan. 14 deadline to return from IR. He rushed 11 times for 86 yards in three games earlier this season.
To make room for Badie on the active roster, Denver placed backup offensive lineman Frank Crum on the non-football injury (NFI) list. Crum missed the last two weeks of practice with an undisclosed illness.
In a third and final move, the Broncos elevated offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad to the game-day roster. Gargiulo will be eligible to play against the Bills on Sunday and then revert back to the practice squad on Monday.
Buffalo, meanwhile, elevated safety Kareem Jackson and wide receiver Jalen Virgil — two former Denver players — from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. Both players are now available to play Sunday.
Broncos roster moves
Activated RB Tyler Badie from IR
Placed OL Frank Crum on NFI list
Elevated OL Nick Gargiulo from PS
We’ve activated RB Tyler Badie from IR and elevated G Nick Gargiulo for #DENvsBUF.
After struggling against the Browns, Broncos CB Levi Wallace won’t play today. View the team’s complete inactives list here.
The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for Sunday’s showdown with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season.
The Broncos’ inactive players today are quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Riley Moss (knee), cornerback Levi Wallace, linebacker Levelle Bailey, guard/center Nick Gargiulo, offensive tackle Frank Crum and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.
*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 Colts. They will be reactivated on Monday.
Broncos inactives vs. Colts
QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
CB Riley Moss (knee)
CB Levi Wallace
LB Levelle Bailey
OL Nick Gargiulo
OT Frank Crum
DL Eyioma Uwazurike
Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered favorites against the Colts.
The Broncos have elevated guard/center Nick Gargiulo and cornerback Reese Taylor from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 15.
The Denver Broncos are calling up reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 15 showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Broncos elevated guard/center Nick Gargiulo and cornerback Reese Taylor from the practice squad to the game-day roster, the team announced Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This marks Gargiulo’s third and final elevation. He was inactive for the team’s last two games after being elevated. Taylor has been elevated for the first time.
Elsewhere on the transaction front, Denver signed linebacker K.J. Cloyd to the practice squad earlier this week. The team also gave left tackle Garett Bolles a four-year contract extension this week.
Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Broncos are considered favorites against the Colts.
The Broncos have elevated guard/center Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad to the game-day roster ahead of ‘Monday Night Football.’
The Denver Broncos are calling up an offensive line reinforcement from the practice squad ahead of their Week 13 showdown with the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football.
The Broncos elevated guard/center Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Monday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. He will revert back to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This marks Gargiulo’s second straight elevation. He was inactive after being elevated last week.
Elsewhere on the transaction front, Denver did not activate wide receiver Josh Reynolds from injured reserve on Monday. The deadline to activate Reynolds is Wednesday. If he is not activated before then, Reynolds will remain on IR for the rest of the season.
The Broncos have elevated LB Zach Cunningham and OL Nick Gargiulo from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 12.
The Denver Broncos are calling up some reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 12 showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Broncos elevated linebacker Zach Cunningham and offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo 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 Cunningham’s third and final elevation of the season and Gargiulo’s first.
Next week, Denver will have to decide on if Cunningham will be promoted to the 53-man roster or remain on the practice squad.
Cunningham will provide depth at linebacker behind Cody Barton and Justin Strnad while contributing on special teams. Gargiulo will provide more depth on the line with Ben Powers dealing with a shoulder injury.
These were the hardest players to cut on our projected 53-man roster for the Broncos.
After wrapping up preseason on Sunday, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton must now trim the squad from 91 players down to a 53-man roster by Tuesday afternoon.
Before the cuts begin (likely later today), we put together one final 53-man roster prediction for the Broncos. It featured a dozen difficult decisions, and some of the players we cut might be surprising to fans in Denver.
At wide receiver, for example, Brandon Johnson was cut despite scoring a 46-yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. On the defensive line, Jordan Jackson was cut after totaling two sacks on Sunday. Pass rusher Dondrea Tillman is also a cut candidate despite his standout performance in the preseason finale.
Linebacker Levelle Bailey’s 94-yard pick-six didn’t guarantee him a spot on the squad. Safety Keidron Smith’s three preseason takeaways weren’t enough for him to make it, either.
Such is life in the NFL.
12 hardest (projected) Broncos roster cuts
1. WR Brandon Johnson
2. RB Tyler Badie
3. RB Blake Watson
4. OL Nick Gargiulo
5. OL Sam Mustipher
6. OT Alex Palczewski
7. DL Jordan Jackson
8. DL Matt Henningsen
9. OLB Dondrea Tillman
10. ILB Levelle Bailey
11. DB Keidron Smith
12. P Riley Dixon
If they clear waivers, most of the above players would likely return on the practice squad. Our projected cuts are also just that — projections. Several of these players could end up making the 53-man roster. We’ll find out soon enough. All of Denver’s roster cuts will be tracked on Broncos Wire.
After holding out nine players last week, the Broncos had all but one active-roster player back on the practice field on Wednesday.
Offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton (undisclosed) was held out. Denver cornerback Levi Wallace (hamstring), wide receiver Devaughn Vele (undisclosed) and safety Brandon Jones (hamstring) were back at practice on Wednesday.
Three other injured players who were sidelined on Sunday — cornerback Art Green (concussion) and offensive linemen Nick Gargiulo (undisclosed) and Ben Powers (ribs) — were also back on the field.
Throckmorton was the only active-roster player to not participate. Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) also remain on the physically unable to perform list.
Denver Broncos injuries
1. LB Drew Sanders (Achilles; PUP)
2. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL; PUP)
3. OL Calvin Throckmorton (undisclosed)
The Broncos held out nine players from Sunday’s game against the Packers. We’ll see how many can return in time for the preseason finale.
The Denver Broncos held out nine players when they faced the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 of NFL preseason on Sunday night. Eight of the players are sidelined with injuries.
Broncos safety Brandon Jones (hamstring), cornerback Art Green (concussion), guard Nick Gargiulo (undisclosed), guard Ben Powers (ribs), wide receiver Devaughn Vele (undisclosed) and cornerback Levi Wallace (hamstring) are recovering from injuries. Linebacker Alec Mock was held out after joining the team just days before Sunday’s game.
Meanwhile, linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) remain on the physically unable to perform list. That brought the team’s total of sidelined players to nine against Green Bay.
Broncos coach Sean Payton indicated last week that Green could be on track to return for the preseason finale, and he said Vele’s injury is not serious.
Broncos players who did not play
1. DB Brandon Jones (hamstring)
2. CB Art Green (concussion)
3. OL Nick Gargiulo (undisclosed)
4. OL Ben Powers (ribs)
5. WR Devaughn Vele (undisclosed)
6. CB Levi Wallace (hamstring)
7. LB Drew Sanders (Achilles)
8. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL)
9. LB Alec Mock (rest?)
Denver will return to the practice field on Wednesday and we’ll know more about the status of the injured players then.
Following the Broncos’ preseason opener, we have updated our 53-man roster prediction.
After defeating the Indianapolis Colts 34-30 on the road in their preseason opener on Sunday, the Denver Broncos are now set to host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.
Following the first game action of the summer, we have updated our 53-man roster prediction for the Broncos. This projection will also be updated after each of the team’s two remaining preseason games.
Denver will have to make especially tough decisions at wide receiver, running back and cornerback after preseason.
For now, we have Stidham edging out Zach Wilson for the QB2 job based on his experience in Sean Payton’s offense. That could obviously change if Wilson finishes preseason on a strong note.
Running back (4)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Javonte Williams
Jaleel McLaughlin
Audric Estime
Blake Watson
The first three RBs listed seem to be locks. The toss-up is the fourth spot between undrafted rookie Blake Watson and veteran Samaje Perine. If the Broncos don’t think Watson would clear waivers to get down to the practice squad, Perine could become a cap casualty this summer.
Wide receiver (5)
(Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
Courtland Sutton
Josh Reynolds
Marvin Mims
Troy Franklin
Devaughn Vele
It’s a very difficult decision to cut Tim Patrick, but Vele has impressed this summer and Patrick is 30 years old and coming off back-to-back serious injuries. The Broncos might be able to get Patrick down to the practice squad, and he could be elevated three times during the season. Injuries also happen during the year, so starting the season on the practice squad does not mean Patrick would have to spend the entire campaign there.
Tight end/fullback (5)
(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)
Adam Trautman
Greg Dulcich
Lucas Krull
Michael Burton (FB)
Nate Adkins (TE/FB)
No surprises at tight end. Denver could use a difference-maker at the position when they make roster changes in 2025.
Offensive line (9)
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
OT Garett Bolles
OT Matt Peart
OG Ben Powers
OG Quinn Meinerz
C/G Luke Wattenberg
C/G Alex Forsyth
G/T Will Sherman
OT Mike McGlinchey
OT Alex Palczewski
It’s not ideal to cut a draft pick (Nick Gargiulo), but the Broncos have pretty good depth on the interior offensive line. Frank Crum could be a sleeper to upset one of the veterans for a backup tackle spot.
Defensive line (6)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Zach Allen
D.J. Jones
John Franklin-Myers
Malcolm Roach
Angelo Blackson
Matt Henningsen
The first four players are locks. Eyioma Uwazurike has a real chance to make the team after returning from his suspension, but he’ll need to impress in the final two preseason games.
Outside linebacker (5)
(Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
Baron Browning
Jonathon Cooper
Nik Bonitto
Jonah Elliss
Thomas Incoom
The top four seem to be locks and Incoom has impressed at camp.
Inside linebacker (4)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Alex Singleton
Cody Barton
Jonas Griffith
Justin Strnad
Cody Barton appears to have an initial lead over Griffith in the competition for a starting job. Justin Strnad remains a key special teams player.
Cornerback (6)
(Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
Pat Surtain
Ja’Quan McMillian
Riley Moss
Kris Abrams-Draine
Levi Wallace
Tremon Smith
Riley Moss seems to be a potential front-runner to start across from Pat Surtain. Kris Abrams-Draine was just drafted this year, Tremon Smith is a key special teams player and Levi Wallace is a veteran with plenty of starting experience. That could leave Damarri Mathis as a surprise cut.
Safety (4)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
P.J. Locke
Brandon Jones
Devon Key
JL Skinner
Following the departures of Justin Simmons and Caden Sterns this year, it’s easy to pick four safeties from the remaining group.
Special teams (3)
(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
K Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
Riley Dixon punted twice in the team’s first preseason game and Trenton Gill didn’t get an opportunity because the offense did such a good job staying on the field. We’ll see if Gill can push Dixon in the final two games.
Injured (2)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LB Drew Sanders (Reserve/PUP)
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (Reserve/PUP)
Drew Sanders and Delarrin Turner-Yell seem likely to begin the season on a reserve list, so they won’t count against the initial 53-man roster.
Most healthy Broncos starters played against the Colts on Sunday with a few exceptions that included star cornerback Pat Surtain.
The Denver Broncos played most of their healthy starters in their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with three exceptions on defense.
Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain did not play — just like last year — and he was joined on the sideline by defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen, who have been given sporadic rest days at training camp.
“I think for someone who’s been out for a year, I just would regret it if we hurried him back and then he had a pulled muscle or something,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Uwazurike last week. “So I think it’s a tick early.”
Payton suggested Uwazurike will play against the Green Bay Packers in Denver’s second preseason game next week.
The rest of the players who sat out the Broncos’ preseason opener are recovering from injuries.
Safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) remain on the physically unable to perform list. Denver safety Brandon Jones (hamstring) and cornerback Levi Wallace (hamstring) have been sitting out at practice. Linebacker Justin Strnad is recovering from a groin injury, pass rusher Nik Bonitto is nursing a back injury and rookie guard Nick Gargiulo has an undisclosed ailment.
Broncos players who did not play
DB Brandon Jones (hamstring)
CB Levi Wallace (hamstring)
ILB Justin Strnad (groin)
OLB Nik Bonitto (back)
OL Nick Gargiulo (undisclosed)
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL)
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles)
DL Eyioma Uwazurike (just returned)
CB Pat Surtain (rest)
DL John Franklin-Myers (rest?)
DL Zach Allen (rest?)
We’ll get an update on the Broncos’ injuries when the team returns to practice on Wednesday. Denver will wrap up training camp next week with their final three open practices of the summer.
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