Tre’Quan Smith finds new NFL home after disappointing stint with Broncos

After a disappointing tenure with the Broncos, WR Tre’Quan Smith will hope better days are ahead with the Lions.

The Tre’Quan Smith era has come to an end in Denver.

Nobody will blame you if you didn’t even notice it.

Smith, 28, played under Sean Payton with the Saints from 2018-2021. After New Orleans cut him in late September, the Broncos signed Smith to their practice squad in early October.

We expected Smith to be activated to the 53-man roster quickly, but he was only elevated to the game-day roster once last season. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reported last November that Denver wasn’t “enthralled with his play in practice as he [returned] from an injury.”

Smith played 10 snaps in the one game he played last year and did not draw any targets. Because he ended the season on the practice squad he was eligible to sign a reserve/future contract at the end of the year, but the Broncos opted to not re-sign him.

Denver has since singed 14 players, including two receivers.

As for Smith, he has signed a reserve/future deal with the Lions. Presumably healthy now, Smith will hope to have a better tenure in Detroit than he had with the Broncos. The veteran receiver has 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 10 touchdowns on his career resume (67 games in six seasons).

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Broncos’ updated practice squad going into Week 5

The Broncos added WR Tre’Quan Smith to the practice squad this week and promoted RB Dwayne Washington to the active roster.

After making a few roster moves this week, the Denver Broncos have an updated 17-player* practice squad going into their showdown with the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Broncos added wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith to the practice squad earlier this week and promoted running back Dwayne Washington from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Following those moves, here’s an updated look at the squad for Week 5.

Broncos 2023 Practice Squad

Position Player
QB Ben DiNucci
RB Tyler Badie
WR Tre’Quan Smith
WR Michael Bandy
WR Phillip Dorsett
WR David Sills
TE Lucas Krull
OL Demontrey Jacobs
OL Will Sherman
DL Jordan Jackson
DL P.J. Mustipher
DL Tyler Lancaster
DL Haggai Ndubuisi*
ILB Ben Niemann
OLB Marcus Haynes
CB Art Green
DB Devon Key

*As part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway, defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi does not count against the 16-player practice squad limit, giving the team a 17th player on the practice squad.

Related: 10 notable players not signed to the practice squad

Players who spent time on last year’s practice squad who are now on the 53-man roster include offensive lineman Quinn Bailey, defensive lineman Jonathan Harris and cornerback JaQuan McMillian.

Sunday’s game against New York will kick off at 2:25 p.m. MT (TV map).

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Broncos made several roster moves this week

The Broncos will make several moves this week: Tre’Quan Smith and Dwayne Washington are in. Randy Gregory and Essang Bassey are out.

Story update: Before the Randy Gregory release became official, the team instead traded him to the 49ers for a late-round draft pick. See our original post below. 


The Denver Broncos have had a busy week of transactions.

The moves started Tuesday when the team signed wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith to the practice squad and released receiver Michael Bandy to make room for him. Denver also waived cornerback Essang Bassey on Tuesday.

After that, the Broncos promoted running back Dwayne Washington from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, then they re-signed Bandy to the practice squad on Wednesday.

Denver also plans to release outside linebacker Randy Gregory, but that move is not official at the time of publication.

Additionally, Denver designated pass rusher Baron Browning safety P.J. Locke to return to practice, opening a 21-day window for both players to return to the active roster.

More roster moves might be on the way later this week as offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (hand) and cornerback K’Waun Williams (ankle) are also eligible to return from injured reserve.

If any players are activated from IR or the PUP list to the 53-man roster, the Broncos will have to make corresponding moves to make room for them. In the meantime, here’s a quick look at the roster moves the club made between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Broncos sign ex-Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith to practice squad

The Broncos have signed former Saints wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, who played under Sean Payton from 2018-2021.

The Denver Broncos are adding more depth at wide receiver with a familiar face for head coach Sean Payton.

The Broncos have signed former New Orleans Saints receiver Tre’Quan Smith to their practice squad, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Smith totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons (51 games, 29 starts) under Payton from 2018-2021.

Playing with the Saints last season, Smith hauled in 19 receptions for 278 yards and one touchdown in 15 games (six starts).

Smith, 27, originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick out of UCF in 2018. He is now going into his sixth season in the NFL.

Smith joins a wide receiver room in Denver that includes Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Brandon Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Denver also has wide receivers Phillip Dorsett, David Sills and Michael Bandy on the practice squad.

Smith becomes the fifth ex-Saint on the Broncos’ active roster, joining tight ends Adam Trautman and Chris Manhertz, fullback Michael Burton and kicker Wil Lutz. They are now all reunited with Payton in Denver.

To make room for Smith on the practice squad, the Broncos released wide receiver Michael Bandy.

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Broncos expected to sign WR Tre’Quan Smith early this week

The Broncos are expected to sign WR Tre’Quan Smith early this week.

The Denver Broncos are expected to sign wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith early this week, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) was released by the New Orleans Saints last week and then had a free agent visit with the Broncos. He played under coach Sean Payton with the Saints from 2018-2021.

Smith, 27, totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 17 touchdowns in four seasons (51 games) under Payton. Last year, Smith hauled in 19 receptions for 278 yards and one touchdown in 15 games (six starts).

If signed, Smith would become the sixth wide receiver on the active roster, joining Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Marvin Mims, Brandon Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Denver also has wide receivers Phillip Dorsett, David Sills and Michael Bandy on the practice squad.

The Broncos will need to make a corresponding move to make room for Smith on the 53-man roster when he signs. Denver already has four former Saints on the 53-man roster.

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Broncos host 3 free agents, including an ex-Saints wide receiver

The Broncos hosted LBs Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo and ex-Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith this week.

The Denver Broncos seem to be seeking more depth at linebacker and wide receiver.

The Broncos brought in two free agent linebackers — Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo — for workouts on Wednesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver is also bringing in wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for a visit, according to multiple reports (via Saints Wire).

Pool (6-2, 232 pounds) signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas earlier this year. He totaled 441 tackles in five years (51 games) with the Razorbacks.

Vallejo (6-1, 230 pounds) has spent time with five NFL teams since entering the league as a sixth-round pick out of Boise State with the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He played under Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph last season, recording 37 tackles in 17 games (five starts).

Denver is likely looking for more depth at LB after losing Josey Jewell to a groin injury against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft out of UCF. He played under Broncos coach Sean Payton from 2018-2021. Smith has totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns in 66 career games (35 starts).

Denver already has four former Saints on the 53-man roster. We’ll see if Smith joins them this week.