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.
- WR Josh Reynolds activated from IR
- OLB Baron Browning traded (confirmed)
- C Luke Wattenberg activated from IR
- OL Calvin Throckmorton cut from 53
- LB Kwon Alexander promoted to 53
- TE Greg Dulcich traded or cut
- LB Drew Sanders activated from PUP
- CB Damarri Mathis traded or cut
- FB Michael Burton activated to 53
- QB Zach Wilson traded
- DB Delarrin Turner-Yell activated from IR
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey demoted to PS
- RB Tyler Badie activated from IR
- Future player placed on IR
Denver seems likely to make at least a few moves this week. Stay tuned.
