ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell just before the Denver Broncos' matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football", reporting that some members of the Broncos staff explored the idea of bringing in former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the AFC Championship Game in January.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't know Denver's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael were talking about Brees joining the team after Bo Nix suffered an injury in the Broncos' overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.
The Broncos were set to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the offense against a stiff New England Patriots defense in snowy conditions at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver wasn't sure if Brees would make the start over Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round pick by the Patriots who had only made four career starts before the AFC championship.
A Broncos source told Schefter that Brees was confident he knew how to win that type of contest.

#Broncos #denver #round

If you thought Philip Rivers' return to become the Colts' starting quarterback last season was a shocking development, Purdue football great Drew Brees reportedly discussed an even more improbable return.
ESPN reported Brees and Denver Broncos coaches discussed Brees returning to play for the franchise in last year's AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to an ankle injory in their AFC Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Brees, 47, had not played a game since his retirement from the New Orleans Saints after the 2020 season. According to ESPN, he wanted to work out prior to making any commitments. After doing so, he said he encountered wrist pain and decided against pursuing a return.
ESPN's report said even Broncos coach Sean Payton -- Brees' coach with the Saints -- did not know of the discussions until the summer.
The Broncos instead went with their actual backup, Jarret Stidham, in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

#espn #saints #quarterback #discussed

It looks like the Denver Broncos were this close to seeing their 2025 season take an eye-popping turn. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees had considered coming out of retirement to join the Broncos in the postseason last year.
Per Schefter, Brees had conversations with the team's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ****** istant Pete Carmichael about the quarterback potentially playing in the AFC championship. The Broncos had lost starting QB Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the final plays of the divisional win over the Buffalo Bills, leaving an opening at QB1 that was being filled by backup Jarrett Stidham.
The 47-year-old Brees said that he wanted to work out first to see how his body was doing, but "discomfort" in Brees' wrist led him to turn down the offer, per Schefter.
Lombardi and Carmichael, along with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, all worked with Brees during his time with the New Orleans Saints. However, Payton only heard about the plot to entice Brees back to the NFL this offseason, with the plan leaving him "both fascinated and flabbergasted," per Schefter
However, Denver maybe could have used Brees in the ****** le game, as the team lost 10-7 to the New England Patiotrs; Stidham made crucial mistakes in the loss.

#brees

Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, but he considered coming out of retirement with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback explored joining the Denver Broncos ahead of January's AFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The conversations followed Bo Nix's fractured ankle in Denver's Jan. 17 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive **** istant Pete Carmichael, two of Brees' longtime coaches in New Orleans, contacted him about a potential return.
Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix was injured. He wanted to test his body before committing to a comeback, but wrist discomfort during his workout ended the possibility, Schefter reported.
The initial talks happened without Sean Payton's involvement. Lombardi and Carmichael first wanted to see whether Brees was interested, and Payton didn't learn about their conversations until the offseason, according to Schefter.
Had Brees felt ready to return, Denver would've signed him and evaluated whether he or Jarrett Stidham would start, Schefter noted. One Broncos source explained to ESPN how the team viewed the possibility: "At a minimum, you sign (Brees), he's 1A or 1B. And Drew's point was: 'I know how to win a game like that.'"

#brees #orleans #Broncos

The Denver Broncos were in a desperate situation entering the 2026 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. With starting quarterback Bo Nix injured and missing the game, the team reportedly reached out to Hall of Famer Drew Brees to see if he was interested in what could have been one of the most surreal moments in the sport's history.
The Broncos had homefield advantage, but were dealt a cruel blow with Nix breaking his ankle late in their Divisional Round overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the game and in blizzard-like conditions, could only muster seven points as the Patriots won 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
But what if it was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center for the Broncos that day?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos did indeed reach out to Drew Brees to gauge his interest in an improbable comeback. Considering that Sean Payton coaches the Broncos and the pairing is one of the most successful in NFL history while winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, it's easy to see why Denver made the call. Brees and Payton are the second-winningest QB/Coach combo in NFL history, only behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Of course, there would have been one major obstacle to overcome. Drew Brees had just turned 47 and hadn't played a competitive NFL game since January 17, 2021 in a playoff loss to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Brees wouldn't have been alone in making an incredible return as Philip Rivers had come out of five years of retirement to play three games for the injury-plagued Indianapolis Colts. While Rivers went 0-3 as a starter, he completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 TDs to 3 INTS.

#super #payton

The Denver Broncos will pay considerably more against the salary cap for backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham than they will for starter Bo Nix in 2026.
Nix carries a $5.076 million cap hit, according to Over the Cap. Stidham checks in at $8 million, nearly $3 million more. And the comparison does not stop with Denver's quarterback room: Nix has just the 18th-highest cap charge among players on the Broncos' current active roster.
That unusual pecking order illustrates one of Denver's biggest advantages as the defending AFC West champions prepare for their September 14 opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nix's contract is a product of his status as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
The Broncos quarterback signed a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $18.61 million, according to Over the Cap. His 2026 compensation includes a $1.075 million base salary and $1.412 million roster bonus, while prorated signing-bonus money brings his cap charge to $5.076 million.

#million

The Denver Broncos' initial 53-man roster came down to the wire, having cut down from 91 players to 53 on Sunday afternoon. There were several surprises from the initial roster, from cutting fan-favorite draft picks to veteran playmakers. We take a more in-depth look at the winners and losers from the first iteration of the 53-man roster.
Ehlinger made a push for the backup quarterback position against Jarrett Stidham this summer. Stidham ended up starting two of Denver's preseason contests, giving him a leg up on Ehlinger. What sealed Ehlinger's spot on the 53-man roster was his performance on Friday against the Minnesota Vikings. Ehlinger went 15-of-20 for 233 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. General manager George Paton said that the team "didn't want to lose him" after a very competitive summer.
McLaughlin was the "last decision we made," according to Paton in a post-cut presser. The writing began to be on the wall when the Broncos put McLaughlin on the practice squad in 2025. McLaughlin became expendable when the Broncos drafted Jonah Coleman in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Conversely, Badie was named to the 53-man roster ahead of McLaughlin. Badie struggled in the preseason, but was one of those players who coach Sean Payton apparently couldn't live without. Badie saw action in 15 of Denver's games, so the trust is there. The fact that Badie made the roster in place of McLaughlin tells a story of the skill set difference between the players.
"Mr. Irrelevant" showed his potential throughout the preseason, making tackles and even forcing a fumble. One could have made a strong case for Murdock, who played his ***** off in camp and the preseason. He was calling plays for Vance Joseph's defense and was one of the biggest surprises of the entire cut process. Hopefully Murdock clears waivers and will be on the practice squad. He was a likeable player, with an even better story.

#made #players #paton

The Denver Broncos are expected to roll with Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback in Friday night's preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings, which could signal the end of the backup quarterback competition.
Starting quarterback Bo Nix is not expected to play, which leaves Stidham and Sam Ehlinger to handle the quarterback duties for the entire game. Regardless of how the Broncos split up the reps, if this were still a legitimate competition, Ehlinger would likely get the start since he has yet to start a game in the preseason.
It seems likely that the team has already made up its mind.
#Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham likely to start Friday night, per source, but expect a big dose of Sam Ehlinger. Game flow matters, but Ehlinger is in line to see potentially most of the overall work.

Stidham played five series to Ehlinger's 1-plus last week.
Even if Ehlinger gets the majority of the work against the Vikings, that could just be the Broncos allowing him to audition for another team. If he doesn't end up on the active roster as the third-string quarterback, Ehlinger will presumably be a top target for Denver's practice squad.

#jarrett #Friday

Bo Nix is back.
Last time we saw the Denver Broncos quarterback, he was finishing off an overtime victory in the divisional round against the Buffalo Bills. Moments after the game ended, head coach Sean Payton revealed Nix had a fractured ankle and his season was over.
The news wasn't just shocking. It might've altered the course of NFL history.
Denver, starting backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, would go on to lose to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Two weeks later, it was the Patriots that were blown out in Super Bowl 60. Whether Nix would've guided Denver to a Super Bowl victory is anyone's guess, but fans will always wonder what could've been.
In the meantime, there was some uncertainty about Nix going into the 2026 season. Would his mobility be impacted? Would he be the same player?

#quarterback #Broncos

After a dominant win over the Atlanta Falcons last Friday, the Denver Broncos will hit the field for their second preseason game on Friday night. This time, they will be in the friendly confines of Empower Field to welcome in the Green Bay Packers.
With the preseason slowly ticking away, we are inching closer to the kickoff of the regular season. But that also means the end of the road — at least in terms of being on the 53-man roster — for several members of the current team.
Many of the decisions have been made as far as which players will help make up the team in Denver this year, but there is still time for players to give a strong impression and, at the very least, make cutting them that much more difficult.
On Friday night, fans should keep a lookful eye for these players, who need to make a strong impression before it's too late.
The Broncos stated that the team would hold a competition for the backup quarterback job between Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger this summer. Many Broncos fans felt that Ehlinger could win that competition based on the poor performance Stidham had in last year's AFC Championship game.

#Broncos #make #denver #ehlinger

Karl Mecklenburg originally shared this post on his social media pages, and it was re-shared here with permission.
The Broncos' first-preseason game went well. They beat Atlanta in a quiet and mostly empty stadium. Quarterback Jerrett Stidham bounced back from his disastrous AFC Championship appearance and had a good showing with the Broncos' first-team offense. The Broncos' offensive line gave him great protection and Stidham threw the ball well. The Broncos defense got some turnovers and controlled the game throughout. Rookie players who stood out to me were undrafted free agent wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV and 4th round running back Jonah Coleman. I was also impressed with Davis Webb calling the plays. Not only was the Atlanta defense off balance but Denver didn't have to waste any timeouts due to communication problems.
Sam Ehlinger, the other quarterback fighting for a position behind Bo Nix, didn't play as well. He didn't have the advantage of playing with the starters last Friday and it showed. Hopefully this Friday we will see Bo Nix quarterbacking the first-string group with Ehlinger getting some time with the first team line, backs, and receivers as well.
Last Friday was the [eighth] preseason win in a row for the Broncos. Preseason wins don't count for qualifying for the playoffs, but winning becomes a habit. When a team prepares to win, and expects to win, they play to win. The veterans set the tone. They were engaged on the sidelines, encouraging the backups, and congratulating them for big plays and scores. When veterans in any business are engaged and supportive of newcomers it makes a huge difference.
This Friday the Green Bay Packers will be in Denver to play the Broncos. The stadium won't be quiet or half empty like it was in Atlanta. I would expect the healthy first-string players to play for the first half, and maybe one series into the second half. Playing one series into the second half would allow them to work on making half time adjustments with play caller Davis Webb, like they will in the regular season. With the preseason goals of identifying talent, staying healthy, growing as a team, and always playing to win, this Friday's game should be fun. Go Broncos!

#play #well #playing

There were a lot of positive developments for the Denver Broncos in their 27-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the first game of the preseason. The defense forced some turnovers, Jarrett Stidham played well starting at quarterback, and Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb dialed up a lot of creative plays.
However, one of the best aspects was how well their rushing attack performed. The Broncos rushed for 162 yards against the Falcons in their preseason opener. As a group, they averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per carry and moved the chains with nine first downs on the ground. By doing so, they controlled the pace of the game and the clock, earning themselves a decisive victory in the process.
Head Coach Sean Payton was pleased with the stable of back's efforts. Last season, the Broncos struggled in the latter portion of the season when J.K. Dobbins went down with injury. In order to keep their ground game strong for the upcoming season, Denver drafted Washington standout Jonah Coleman with one of their fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In his NFL debut, Coleman had just four carries. He racked up 24 yards on the ground, including an impressive 13-yard scamper that showcased his vision, contact balance, and ability to break tackles and create extra yards after contact. All key reasons why the Broncos believe highly in his future with the franchise. When asked why Coleman's carry total and playing time in the preseason opener was limited, Payton had a short and sweet answer.
"I didn't need to see additional evidence of what I've been seeing for three weeks," Payton stated.

#payton

The Denver Broncos came out of the preseason gates on Friday night with a head full of steam before proceeding to steamroll the Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos opened the exhibition season with a 27-7 road win, looking every bit like the Super Bowl contenders many expect them to be.
Jarrett Stidham got the start for the Broncos and looked terrific in the process, showing no signs that he is even close to losing his job as Bo Nix's primary backup. That news may not sit well in the minds of many Broncos fans who are still upset over the way Stidham performed in last year's AFC Championship game.
However, if Stidham was going to lose his job as the team's backup quarterback because of that game, that move should have already happened. Instead, Sam Ehlinger has had the door open for his chance to play his way into that job, or so we've been led to believe.
Whether this is a close competition or not is up for discussion, as some believe coach Sean Payton is just showing the league what he has in Ehlinger in an effort to earn some kind of compensation for him from a quarterback-needy team, and that he doesn't actually have much chance of wresting the job away from Stidham.
Stidham showed strong command of the offense in this game. He completed nine of his 15 pass attempts for 131 yards and one touchdown. On the scoring play, he evaded the pass rush and made a good decision to find Jaleel McLaughlin for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

#Broncos #pass #many #showing

The Denver Broncos had a mostly positive preseason opening win over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night. The team committed too many penalties and the special teams had some gaffes, but the team still earned a 27-7 road win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Bo Nix sat this one out while Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger took their quarterback competition to the next stage. But the team used many of its rookies in this game, looking to get a further look at some of the new blood in orange and blue.
Here, we will grade the performance of many of those first-year players.
Jonah Coleman, RB
Jonah Coleman is the rookie Broncos fans are going to be talking about the most following this win, mostly wondering if the team can afford to give him a small role in 2026. While that may not even be in the plans, Coleman made the most of his four carries on Friday night, gaining 24 yards and making an early case for a bigger role than most would have initially thought. Check out this run:

#atlanta #falcons #jonah

The Denver Broncos have released their first depth chart of 2026, but it should be taken with a grain of salt.
NFL rules require teams to release depth charts before their first preseason game, but Broncos coach Sean Payton clearly doesn't like the exercise, and the club calls it an "unofficial" depth chart. Still, it comes straight from the team, so it's our best reference for a rough estimation of how players stack up during preseason.
One big note: Payton puts rookies at the back of the line, so players like running back Jonah Coleman are listed last at their position, even though the training camp rotation suggests that's not actually the case. With the caveats out of the way, here's a look at the Broncos' depth chart going into the team's first preseason game.
QB1: Bo Nix
QB2: Jarrett Stidham

#Broncos #first #payton

The Denver Broncos released their first depth chart of 2026 on Wednesday, as is mandated by the NFL.
The league requires clubs to publish a depth chart before their first preseason game, but many teams (including the Broncos) call it an "unofficial" depth chart, so it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Still, it's the first depth chart we have received from the team this summer, so it's worth discussing. Denver coach Sean Payton, as usual, has rookies at the back of the line as they have to prove themselves before climbing the depth chart. Let's jump into a few quick takeaways.
1. Jarrett Stidham is listed as QB2: Stidham, who has served as Denver's backup quarterback since 2023, is facing competition from Sam Ehlinger this summer. Ehlinger has gotten some reps with the second-team offense at training camp, but he's still listed as QB3 going into preseason.
2. Marvin Mims is WR3: Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are listed as the two starting wide receivers, and Marvin Mims is listed as a third starting receiver. Pat Bryant is listed as the backup behind Sutton, Troy Franklin is behind Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey is listed after Waddle.

#stidham

Auburn football landed its first commitment for the 2028 recruiting cycle last Saturday when three-star quarterback Sam Sollie from Gadsden City High School announced his pledge to Auburn over SEC rivals Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, and Alabama.
Should Sollie sign with Auburn in December of 2027, he will become the first quarterback from Auburn's home state to sign with the Tigers since Bo Nix pledged to Auburn with the class of 2019. The fact is not lost on Sollie, who says he is honored to follow Nix's footsteps.
"It's a big deal. I think the last in-state guy who committed to Auburn was Bo Nix. It's a big deal," Sollie said (via Montgomery Advertiser). "I definitely look up to Bo Nix, looking at Cam Newton, Nick Marshall, and Jared Stidham. Just all those guys, I look at them like celebrities."
This fact begs the question... how often do in-state quarterbacks sign with Auburn? Several of Auburn's best-known quarterbacks in history were from Alabama, including Stan White, Patrick Nix, and 1971 Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan.
However, Auburn's track record of signing in-state quarterbacks has slimmed since 2000, as only eight high school quarterbacks from Alabama have signed with Auburn since the turn of the millennium. It is also worth noting that three of those quarterbacks were on Auburn's depth chart for the Tigers' 2010 National Championship win, and only three in-state high school quarterbacks have signed with Auburn since.

#alabama

Playing quarterback in the NFL is the most valuable position in team sports, but every team has a different starting and backup QB, so determining the gap in point-spread value between the two can be an extremely useful tool for bettors.
Put another way: How much would the spread move if Patrick Mahomes was suddenly injured leading up to a game and Justin Fields was forced to be the starter?
It's an important question for bettors (and bookmakers) alike to answer, and one that has real-world applications every NFL season.
For example, back in January when Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix was ruled out of the AFC Championship Game with a broken ankle suddenly (leaving Jarrett Stidham as the starter), the Broncos went from a lookahead line of Denver -1.5 to +4.5 against the New England Patriots (which was then quickly bet up to Denver +5.5).
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season

#starter

As the Denver Broncos wrapped up their first week of on-field work, there is a lot to be excited about. There are also some kinks that need to be ironed out before the regular season begins in September.
We take a look at five takeaways from Day 2 of training camp on Saturday.
1) Marvin Mims may be a legitimate offensive threat in 2026: In two days of camp, Mims has had several big catches for touchdowns from both Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix. Previously, coach Sean Payton had trouble utilizing Mims in a consistent, meaningful way on offense. Mims' role in offensive coordinator Davis Webb's game plan seems to point toward more usage for the third-year wide receiver and special teams ace. In a contract season for Mims, this is a great opportunity to see his stock rise.
2) Bo Nix continues to hit the deep throws: Nix has hit several deep passes through two days of training camp, and one of the latest featured an off-balance, under duress throw to a streaking Pat Bryant for what would have been a touchdown. The downfield attack has been seen several times now, and has beaten the vaunted Bronco secondary a few times already.
Bo Nix with another highlight early in 11-on-11. Rolling right, off-kilter, in-stride bomb to Pat Bryant for a TD.

Nix turned around and barked in excitement at players/coaches watching on sideline

#camp #several

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Over and over, Bo Nix planted his right foot and accurately delivered the ball downfield Saturday.
On the few broken plays, he wasn't shy to tuck it and run.
The Denver Broncos ' third-year quarterback who underwent a pair of surgeries on his right ankle this offseason is back working with the starters and leading the team that he took to the AFC championship game six months ago only to watch from the luxury suites as backup Jarrett Stidham directed Denver's offense in a three-point loss to New England in a snowstorm.
"It feels great, it feels normal," Nix said after Saturday's practice. "It feels like we're headed in the right direction as a team."
The Broncos were conservative with Nix in the offseason, mostly holding him out of drills save for some 7-on-7s at their minicamp in June. Coach Sean Payton said Saturday that Nix is right where the team expected to him be health-wise.

#team

The Denver Broncos are going into training camp with the same three quarterbacks they rostered last season. Time will tell if that remains the case when the regular season arrives in September.
There were rumblings this spring that the team could look to trade Jarrett Stidham. Such a trade hasn't happened yet, but a trade scenario can't be ruled out as we approach preseason.
For now, Stidham is competing with Sam Ehlinger for the QB2 job behind starter Bo Nix. Ehlinger showed great loyalty to the club last season, turning down active-roster offers from three NFL teams in 2025. If the Broncos eventually do trade Stidham, they could reward Ehlinger's loyalty by promoting him to QB2. Or he could simply win the backup job this summer, which would demote Stidham to QB3.
QB1: Bo Nix
QB2: Jarrett Stidham

#three #loyalty

Other NFL team previews: 32. Dolphins | 31. Jets | 30. Cardinals | 29. Browns | 28. ******* ans | 27. Raiders | 26. Falcons | 25. Giants | 24. Saints | 23. Panthers | 22. Buccaneers | 21. Colts | 20. Steelers | 19. Vikings | 18. Commanders | 17. Bengals | 16. Jaguars | 15. Packers | 14. Chargers | 13. 49ers | 12. Chiefs | 11. Bears | 10. Texans | 9. Eagles | 8. Cowboys | 7. Ravens | 6. Lions | 5. Patriots
Among the countless interesting tidbits in an ESPN story shadowing Sean Payton for a week before last season's AFC Championship game was one of Payton's "playoff myths" he shared with the team.
The myth he showed his players was, "We'll Be Back Next Year." Payton followed that by telling the team, "Nothing is promised."
The Denver Broncos had a remarkable season with a weird ending. Not long after the Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills in one of the most thrilling games of last postseason, Payton returned to the podium and shared with the media that Bo Nix had broken his ankle and was out for the rest of the season, including the AFC championship game.
The Broncos battled in that AFC ******* le game against the Patriots with Jarrett Stidham starting at quarterback, but one massive turnover by Stidham and a questionable fourth-down gamble in the first half, along with a blinding snowstorm in the second half, might have cost them a win and a chance to play in the Super Bowl. As Payton told the team before the game, being in that position might not happen again.

#team

The Denver Broncos made eight roster moves around mandatory minicamp last week, and the 91-man offseason roster now appears to be set going into the summer.
With the squad seemingly prepped for training camp next month, now's a good time to take a look at our updated depth chart for the Broncos.
Note that this depth chart is a projection, not an official depth chart from the team. Denver is not required to release an official depth chart until preseason games begin in August (view the preseason schedule). With that understood, let's jump into the projection.
QB1: Bo Nix
QB2: Jarrett Stidham OR Sam Ehlinger

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are back on the football field for the first time since losing the AFC championship game to New England with Bo Nix watching from a suite with his surgically repaired right ankle in a cast.
Nix is still sidelined following a second procedure on his right ankle but he was on the field Thursday, throwing some passes but mostly watching backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger incorporate offseason acquisition Jaylen Waddle into the offense.
“He's had a good week,” coach Sean Payton said of Waddle, the speedy receiver the Broncos acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this spring. “He's someone who picks things up real quick. He had a real good day yesterday and you can just feel his instincts and his quickness and his ability to not only run fast but to stop fast.”
Waddle is expected to work with Nix by the time the Broncos hold their minicamp in two weeks.
“I mean, you don't see (Nix) in pre-practice, but he's been throwing and I do think in our third week .... you'll see more of a role,” Payton said.

One Veteran Free Agent the Broncos Must Sign Immediately After the NFL Draft

In this story:
The 2026 NFL draft is in the books, and the Denver Broncos came away with seven selections. Denver filled many future needs and fleshed out the depth chart entering the summer.
The Broncos did not select or sign a quarterback from the undrafted ranks, but only a few days after the draft ended, they suddenly need one. We learned on Tuesday that franchise quarterback Bo Nix likely won't be available for the Broncos' voluntary workouts or their mandatory minicamp in June, as the team expected.
Nix recently underwent a "cleanup" procedure on the ankle he fractured in the Broncos' 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills back in January. The Broncos' public messaging in the months since Nix's injury had been that he'll be ready to go by OTAs, but it doesn't appear he'll be available until training camp in late July.
With Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger on the roster, the Broncos suddenly need a quarterback, and I'm not talking about a high-profile starter, like Aaron Rodgers; I'm talking about a third-stringer who can be a camp arm this spring.

https://www.si.com/nfl/bro...