Denver Broncos 53-man Roster Projection: See who’s in and who’s out following Week 2 of the preseason
Here is an updated look at where the Denver Broncos roster stands after the second preseason game and ahead of the finale that will determine the final 53-man roster for Week 1.
The home stretch of the Denver Broncos‘ preseason is here. After this weekend, the Broncos, like 31 other teams, will enter the final cutdown window, narrowing their roster from 90 to 53.
We now have even more data to go along with storylines like Bo Nix’s recovery and potential year three leap, the signing of safety Taylor Rapp, and Sean Payton’s comments about Jaylen Waddle and his WR room after Week 2 of the preseason, so let’s project what this roster will look like come Week 1 of the regular season.
Broncos 2026 preseason schedule
- Week 1 @ Atlanta Falcons (W, 27-7).
- Week 2 @ Green Bay Packers (13-33, L)
- Week 3 vs. Minnesota Vikings (Friday, August 28).
Offense (24)
Quarterback (3)
In: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
Out/bubble: NA
Running back (3)
In: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman.
Out/bubble: Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlin (strong special teams/pass-blocking cases but numbers game; PS candidates), Cody Schrader, Adam Prentice.
Wide receiver (5)
In: Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin.
Out/bubble: Lil’Jordan Humphrey (Payton favorite, strong camp; frequent PS), Cameron Ross, Kolbe Katsis, Hakeem Butler, others.
Tight end (4)
In: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins (TE/FB versatility), Justin Joly.
Out/bubble: Dallen Bentley, Lucas Krull; Caleb Lohner (injury → likely IR candidate with return designation).
Offensive line (9)
In: OT Garett Bolles, OT Mike McGlinchey, G Quinn Meinerz, G Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg; depth — Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Kage Casey, and usually Alex Forsyth or Calvin Throckmorton (versatility edge often to Throckmorton).
Out/bubble: Matt Peart, the other of Forsyth/Throckmorton, Tyler Miller (developmental tackle, waiver risk), others.
Defense (26)
Defensive line (7)
In: Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Sai’vion Jones
Out/bubble: Jordan Miller (PS).
Outside linebacker / Edge (5)
In: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper (placeholder pending possible suspension/legal resolution), Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson.
Out/bubble: Drew Sanders (injury history), Dasan McCullough, Johnny Walker.
Inside linebacker (4)
In: Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Karene Reid, Red Murdock
Out/bubble: Jordan Turner, Taurean York, Levelle Bailey
Cornerback (5)
In: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine
Out/bubble: Reese Taylor, Sean Fresch (strong ST/defense push in some projections).
Safety (5)
In: Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Taylor Rapp (recent addition), Devon Key, JL Skinner (ST value).
Out/bubble: Miles Scott, Tycen Anderson, Parker Robertson.
Special teams (3)
In: K Wil Lutz, P Jeremy Crawshaw, LS Mitchell Fraboni.
Out: Luke Basso (camp workload share only).
Key notes / toughest cuts & variables
- Common outs/bubble players across projections: Badie/McLaughlin (RB), Humphrey (WR), Bentley/Lohner (TE), Peart/Forsyth or Throckmorton (OL), one of Jackson/Sai’vion (DL), Sanders (OLB), one of the young ILBs, Taylor/Fresch (CB), Scott/Anderson (S).
- Practice squad will be key for retaining depth (Prentice, Ehlinger in some views, Humphrey, developmental OL/DL/ST players).
- Injury/IR flexibility (Lohner, Gargiulo, others) and Cooper’s status are the biggest swing factors before the final cutdown.
