The Broncos’ 53-man roster puzzle is well underway.
Denver started the process of trimming from 90 players down to 53 ahead of Sunday’s 4 p.m. deadline on Saturday when they made their first 11 moves.
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Most notable among them was agreeing with fullback Adam Prentice to start the season on the practice squad. Prentice, though, will be a key contributor to the Broncos this fall regardless of where he’s technically signed Monday.
Denver made 10 other moves, too, in releasing and waiving players across the roster.
They now have 80 players left and still must make 27 moves on Sunday. That will likely include an injured reserve placement or two — offensive lineman Frank Crum is a candidate to start the season on IR and miss the first four games — along with more traditional waivers and releases. The Broncos will likely work with more veterans about the possibility of either starting on the practice squad or being released and then re-signed to the 53-man roster. Could a trade pop up, too?
The countdown is on.
Here’s the latest:
Sam Ehlinger makes the 53-man roster
The Broncos are going to start the season with three quarterbacks on their active roster.
Sam Ehlinger has been told he’s making the 53-man roster, sources confirmed to The Post.
Ehlinger told The Post earlier this month that he had a high degree of trust in Sean Payton, George Paton and the Broncos’ brass and did not sound like a player who planned on packing his bags.
Indeed, he not only will carry on in Denver but will do so as a member of the active roster.
Ehlinger finished his preseason with three touchdown passes Friday night against Minnesota. After the game, he said his wife is due with their first child, a son, on Tuesday. So, a whirlwind stretch in all sorts of ways for the former University of Texas quarterback.
Denver, then, will have both Jarrett Stidham and Ehlinger behind Bo Nix in the quarterback room. Payton has not yet been willing to say who the No. 2 will be this fall.
Broncos waive trio of 2026 draft picks
The difficulty of making this roster is on full display for Denver’s 2026 draft class.
The Broncos on Sunday waived fifth-round tight end Justin Joly, seventh-round safety Miles Scott and seventh-round ILB Red Murdock on their way down to 53 players.
Joly had an overall quiet training camp but finished with a flourish and an 88-yard touchdown in Friday’s preseason finale. Scott had been quietly having a solid camp and told The Post on Friday night that he thought his last week of practice and Friday’s game against the Vikings had been his best work yet in camp.
Murdock is maybe the most surprising of the bunch. He’s had a good training camp and has been calling the defense with Denver’s third group. It appears second-year men Karene Reid and Jordan Turner are still ahead of him on the depth chart.
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A couple of other notable undrafted free agents who have been waived after impressive training camps: Tackle Tyler Miller and wide receivers Kolbe Katsis and Cam Ross.
Cooper placed on commissioner’s exempt list
The Broncos do indeed get clarity on Jonathon Cooper’s status ahead of the roster cutdown. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list by Roger Goodell on Sunday, meaning he’ll continue to be paid but cannot practice or play for Denver. He can be in the building, attend meetings, work out and receive treatment from the team.
Meanwhile, while Cooper is on the exempt list he does not count against Denver’s 53-man roster.
Tyler Badie makes it as fourth RB
Denver ended up keeping four tailbacks on its 53-man roster and Tyler Badie earned the nod, a source told The Post. He’s a good pass-protector and that won out for him to join a room with J.K. Dobbins, Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey.
Broncos get down to 53. Here’s the list
Offense
Quarterbacks (3): Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
Running backs (4): J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman, Tyler Badie
Tight ends (4): Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Nate Adkins, Dallen Bentley
Wide receivers (6): Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Offensive linemen (9): Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Luke Wattenberg, Kage Casey, Alex Palczewski, Alex Forsyth, Matt Peart
Defense
Defensive linemen (7): Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson, Sai’vion Jones
Outside linebackers (4): Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman
Inside linebackers (4): Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Karene Reid, Jordan Turner
Cornerbacks (5): Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine
Safeties (5): Brandon Jones, Talanoa Hufanga, Devon Key, JL Skinner, Tycen Anderson
Special teams
Placekicker (1): Wil Lutz
Punter (1): Jeremy Crawshaw
IR
OL Frank Crum
TE Caleb Lohner
Sunday’s moves
- OLB Jonathon Cooper (exempt list)
- OL Nick Gargiulo (PUP)
- OL Frank Crum (IR)
- TE Caleb Lohner (IR)
- LS Mitch Fraboni — Veteran who will return to PS or active roster
- CB Brent Austin
- WR Kolbe Katsis
- OL Gavin Ortega
- S Miles Scott
- OLB Dasan McCullough
- TE Justin Joly
- OL Tyler Miller
- LS Luke Basso
- ILB Red Murdock
- TE Lucas Krull
- OLB Johnny Walker
- CB Reese Taylor
- WR Cam Ross
- ILB Taurean York
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin
- CB Sean Fresch Jr.
- WR Michael Bandy
- WR Dane Key
- ILB Drew Sanders (injured)
- RB Cody Schrader
- DT Kristian Williams
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
Saturday’s moves
- FB Adam Prentice — Veteran who will return to PS or active roster
- DT Israel Antwine
- OLB Ron Stone Jr.
- DT Jordan Miller
- WR Joseph Manjack IV
- OL Foster Sarell
- WR Kyrese Rowan
- C Lecitus Smith
- OL Reid Holskey
- CB Ricardo Hallman
- S Parker Robertson
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