* The Bo Nix Growth Meter * A weakness-turned-strength on defense * An under-the-radar hire already paying dividends * Sean Payton's fourth-down gamble and much more 7 thoughts on Broncos' season-opening win: www.denverpost.com/2025/09/08/b... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos offensive snap counts. RB rotation: J.K. Dobbins 40 snaps, RJ Harvey 22, Tyler Badie 14. TE Evan Engram 26 snaps and just one after the third-and-8 conversion in the third quarter when he came up limping with what the team said was a calf injury.

Not a favor because they really value him but they likely told him they wanted him to start on the PS but that he’d be promoted to the 53 when a spot came open. George Paton even said, “we consider Sam a 53-man roster player.”

More on the #Broncos moving DT Malcolm Roach to injured reserve and QB Sam Ehlinger's very short wait for a promotion to the 53-man roster: www.denverpost.com/2025/09/06/m... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos are signing QB Sam Ehlinger to the 53-man roster, source says. Will need a corresponding move, which means either a departure or an IR placement.

Singleton and Strnad. Levelle Bailey will be up, too, Also interested to see how much nickel they play and if they get creative. They really trust McMillian and Barron to tackle. Just a guess, but plenty of ways for Vance Joseph to mix it up.

From the not-surprising department, source said the #Broncos intend to elevate ILB Levelle Bailey from the practice squad on Sunday.

Dre Greenlaw and Malcom Roach are both OUT for the #Broncos Sunday vs. Tennessee.

The #Broncos defense has talent, depth, recognition and now a big price tag. They know, and welcome, lofty expectations. JFM: "The role players, the starters and the stars we have, it gives us that freedom to kind of be able to do everything."\ More: www.denverpost.com/2025/09/05/b...

We're chatting about the #Broncos and their Week 1 matchup against Tennessee at 9 a.m. Come hang, ask questions, etc. You can set a reminder now and find me and @denverpost.com beat partner Luca Evans here at the top of the hour. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jpy...

Obviously every injury is unique, but Dr. Kenton Fibel at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles tells @denverpost.com a typical Grade 2 calf strain — the severity of injury a source says #Broncos DT Malcolm Roach is dealing with — "is probably going to be several weeks."

More on Dre Greenlaw being a DNP again Thursday and two other key #Broncos defensive rotational guys popping up on the injury report: www.denverpost.com/2025/09/04/b... @denverpost.com

#Broncos defense now features two $100-million plus players in DT Zach Allen and OLB Nik Bonitto plus the reigning DPOY in CB Pat Surtain II, whose four-year, $96 million deal last summer is already a bargain.

Yes. Checks in No. 10 among edge rushers. $70 million in guarantees is seventh.

#Broncos' seven extensions since July 2024: * RG Quinn Meinerz * CB Pat Surtain II * OLB Jonathon Cooper * LT Garett Bolles * WR Courtland Sutton * DL Zach Allen * OLB Nik Bonitto Total guaranteed money: $376 million.

Early story on the #Broncos making Nik Bonitto the highest-paid non-QB in franchise history with a four-year extension worth $106 million (up to $120 million) and featuring $70 million guaranteed. www.denverpost.com/2025/09/04/n... via @denverpost.com

Just in: #Broncos and OLB Nik Bonitto get the extension done before the regular season begins. It's four years and up to $120 million with $70 million in guarantees, sources confirm. Base value of $106 million.

Zach Allen loves the chess match against OLs and has built an arsenal — and a mindset — to thrive. A look at his offseason process and a change-up to his stance that worked in 2024, but more importantly what it taught the the #Broncos’ $102 million man: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/31/z...

An offseason that made #Broncos QB Bo Nix uncomfortable was also the one he knew he needed. On slowing down, "creating future memories," worrying about being enough and a superpower Davis Webb thinks will smooth the road for Year 2 Bo. www.denverpost.com/2025/08/31/b... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos notes going into the long weekend: *Early season pitch counts for ILBs Alex Singleton and Dre Greenlaw? *Just a scare for Marvin Mims Jr. *Sean Payton says it's "hard" to have four RBs active on game day. What of that? www.denverpost.com/2025/08/28/a... via @denverpost.com

Last year Zach Wilson. Now Sam Ehlinger. Sean Payton wants Denver to become a QB development destination like SF or Minnesota. "If we called it the most important piece on a chess table ... what is that? Queen? “Then I’d like to have a bunch of queens.” www.denverpost.com/2025/08/28/b...

Source confirms QB Sam Ehlinger is signing to the #Broncos practice squad. Had other options including 53-man roster spots but Sean Payton, Davis Webb and Co. love him. Ehlinger is a veteran and not subject to waivers.

A look at the #Broncos roster, which featured a couple of surprise cuts but on the whole leaned into the themes of the entire offseason: Continuity, impact additions and depth and talent up front on both sides of the ball: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/26/b... via @denverpost.com

After two years of turnover, #Broncos have real stability going into 2025. Of last year's initial 53-man roster, 39 are on this year's (18 O, 19 D, 2 ST). That includes 15 of 16 DLs, with rookie Sai'Vion Jones being the only newbie this year.

Two QBs, seven DLs, four RBs and Karene Reid but no Levelle Bailey at ILB. A look at the #Broncos' initial 53-man roster: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/26/b... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos are down to 65 players as they move toward 53. Five-man WR and CB rooms look set and other groups are rounding into view. All the latest here in the @denverpost.com roster tracker: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/24/b...

#Broncos waivers so far today: RBs Audric Estime and Blake Watson CB Damarri Mathis OLB Garrett Nelson WR Jerjuan Newton Denver's down to 78 players after making seven moves yesterday. All the latest here: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/24/b... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos have waived RB Audric Estime, source said. Was a fifth-round pick in 2024 but writing had been on the wall over the past couple of weeks. Estime never quite grabbed onto a full-time role as a rookie and then fell behind in a room led by J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey this offseason.

#Broncos waived OLB Garrett Nelson, source said. Expected to be a practice squad candidate. Team liked his spring UFL tape with San Antonio. He's also the only OLB left besides guys who are 53-man roster locks. Team waived Andrew Farmer yesterday and isn't planning on signing Farmer to the PS.

#Broncos have waived OT Xavier Truss and DT Michael Dwumfour in addition to the five players reported yesterday, per the transaction wire.

#Broncos beginning their march down to a 53-man roster. They’re waiving OLB Andrew Farmer, sources said. Spent a good chunk of last year on the PS. Denver’s deep OLB group got deeper with the selection of Que Robinson in April’s draft. Farmer not in Denver’s initial practice squad plans.

#Broncos have liked Sam Ehlinger for a while. Insight from Davis Webb, who told me recently that signing him this spring, "was a pretty easy decision." "We didn’t go after many, but we went after him." From New Orleans on Ehlinger's final push for a 53-man spot: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/23/s...

He and his partner had their first child earlier this week and he didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday.

#Broncos I don't see in uniform: OLB Nik Bonitto FB Mike Burton CB Reese Taylor RB Jaleel McLaughlin ILB Drew Sanders TE Nate Adkins DT Kristian Williams

PJ Locke wondered if he'd play again. He started dabbling in real estate. After a hellish 2024 in which he quietly battled shooting nerve pain, he's "free of mind" now after spinal fusion. "I took the punches last year. Now I'm ready to start swinging." www.denverpost.com/2025/08/22/b...

#Broncos traded Jerry Jeudy in 2024 for a R5 (No. 136) and R6 (No. 203). Value 48.2 points on the Jimmy Johnson chart. #Broncos traded Devaughn Vele today for a R4 and 2027 R7. Won't know until Jan. where Saints' R4 lands, but top 10 range from 96-74 points on JJ chart.

#Broncos current 2026 draft picks: R1 R2 R3 R4 R4 (from NO) R5 R7 Traded R6 to NYJ for John Franklin-Myers last year. Also OvertheCap currently projects two additional R7 comp picks. Could end up with just one, but either way Denver in plus draft capital territory.

A look at the #Broncos' updated WR room after Devaughn Vele's departure to New Orleans via trade. Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant, you're up. www.denverpost.com/2025/08/20/b... via @denverpost.com

#Broncos WR depth has shown up all offseason and rookie third-rounder Pat Bryant has played really well in camp and preseason games. Top of Denver's WR room now: * Courtland Sutton * Marvin Mims, Jr. * Troy Franklin * Pat Bryant * Trent Sherfield Sr.

News: #Broncos have traded WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder. Strong return for the 2024 seventh-round selection.

#Broncos signed DT Michael Dwumfour and waived ILB JB Brown, per sources. Dwumfour worked out yesterday morning and was out here today. Need some depth up front with main guys looking at 8-10 snaps Saturday and DT Kristian Williams out.

#Broncos had DTs in to work out today, per source. * Michael Dwumfour * Devonnsha Maxwell * Gavin Meyer Dwumfour's played in 13 games over the past three years for Cleveland, SF and Houston. Maxwell went undrafted in 2023. Meyer's a rookie who went undrafted in April.

The #Broncos have a lot of sure bets but they've got tough/interesting calls on the bubble up and down the roster, too. Two or three QBs? Which RBs? A good DL battle Who gets ST roles? Here's a run at it with two preseason games down: www.denverpost.com/2025/08/17/b... via @denverpost.com

Sean Payton gave Davis Webb stat sheets from his first times calling plays and said, "See if you can beat this." "And he did," Payton said. Raved Jarrett Stidham: "He's an incredible coach." On a fast-rising coach's big night and play-calling "flow": www.denverpost.com/2025/08/17/d...

We'll check after the game but certainly looked like #Broncos QB coach/PGC Davis Webb was calling plays on the last drive. On the headset with a play sheet in hand. If so, that's a nice opportunity for Webb, who is widely considered a fast-riser in the industry.

#Broncos starting offense OL: Peart, Sherman, Forsyth, Throckmorton, Palcho QB: Stidham TE: Engram RB: Harvey WR: Franklin, Bryant and Sherfield

Notable that Jahdae Barron is playing nickel to start the game. We'll see if he gets run outside as the night goes along or if they're keeping him more focused in the slot.

Starting secondary tonight: KAD and Mathis at CB, Locke and Key at S. OLBs: Tillman and Elliss ILBs: Strnad and Bailey DL: Uwazurike, Jackson and Sai'Vion Jones Then Jahdae Barron in at nickel on the second snap.

First WR/RB combo up in team warmups with Jarrett Stidham: Pat Bryant and Kyrese Rowan with RJ Harvey in the backfield.

#Broncos not in uniform tonight by my count: CB Pat Surtain II OLB Nik Bonitto FB Mike Burton CB Reese Taylor CB Joshua Pickett ILB Drew Sanders TE Nate Adkins ILB Dre Greenlaw WR A.T. Perry DL Zach Allen Just because other starters are in uniform doesn't necessarily mean they'll play.