The Broncos head into Week 4 in unusually good shape, and that alone makes this matchup with the 49ers worth watching closely. Denver has mostly stayed away from the kind of major injuries that send players to injured reserve, with rookie running back Jonah Coleman the lone exception so far. Coleman is eligible to come back in Week 7, but for now the Broncos are still dealing with the ripple effects of a few key absences and possible returns.
Thursday’s practice report pointed to one clear development for Denver: wide receiver and return man Waddle is trending toward playing after putting together two straight full practices. He has been managing a foot injury, but it hasn’t kept him off the field during the week.
That’s a major plus for a Broncos special teams unit that has leaned on rookie Kolbe Katsis, who made a record-breaking debut as a returner last week. Katsis has brought energy, but he also bobble two punts, so getting Waddle back in that role would be a welcome reset.
The Broncos also appear set to have Dobbins available after he was a full participant all week. He’s been dealing with various nicks and scrapes this season, and it may help explain why he hasn’t yet found the efficient rushing form he showed in his 10 games last year. Still, the signs are pointing in the right direction for a bigger outing.
On the other side of the ball, Denver may be without depth edge defender Tillman, and that could force some shuffling behind the top group of Nik Bonitto and Jonah Elliss. Que Robinson is already in the mix as a backup, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Broncos elevate a rush linebacker from the practice squad. Johnny Walker looks like the one to watch if that happens.
There’s also good news on the rest front for Denver. Allen and Jones were each limited once this week, but that was simply about rest and not injury. Both are healthy and ready.
San Francisco’s report, though, is the one that really stands out. The 49ers have nearly twice as many players on the practice report, and the DNP list is where things get ugly.
Bosa, Evans, and Greenlaw were all out, with Bosa dealing with a calf injury he suffered in practice last week and expected to miss a few games. That’s a big break for Garett Bolles and especially right tackle Mike McGlinchey, with most of San Francisco’s edge defenders also banged up.
Greenlaw’s quad injury could be the same one he fought through all of last year as a Bronco, while Evans is dealing with his own issue. Even so, 49ers GM John Lynch said Thursday that the veteran wideout has an "old school" mindset and will "make every attempt" to play.
A few other San Francisco names are still worth monitoring. Height and Mykel Williams were both limited, and both are defensive linemen.
McCaffrey, meanwhile, rested on Wednesday before returning as a full participant Thursday. Williams also moved from DNP to limited, and he’s listed with a neck injury that is classified here as rest.
That mix of injuries gives Denver a chance to attack a battered 49ers front in ways the Broncos may not have expected when the week began. Nik Bonitto’s matchup with Williams, one of the best left tackles of the modern era, is one of the key battles on the board.
In Other News...
Broncos Defense Is Flipping A Costly Trend From Last Season
Through three games in the Sean Payton era, the Broncos have found something on defense that was missing too often a year ago: takeaways. Denver has forced a turnover in every game so far, with four interceptions already, the most in the league, and that ball-hawking stretch has helped hold opposing passers to a 74.3 rating.
It is a meaningful shift for a unit trying to set the tone while the offense settles in, especially after last seasons struggles to generate interceptions and consistent disruption. The record sits at 2-1, but the more encouraging sign for Denver may be that this defense is starting to flip a costly trend rather than simply survive around it. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Is Facing A Broncos Problem That Could Snowball Fast
Bo Nix has spent much of the opening stretch of the season dealing with heat in the pocket, and the Broncos have not found many easy answers for it. Through the first three games, pressure has been a constant issue for Denvers offense, with Nix facing it on 43 percent of his dropbacks as opposing defenses have leaned into a more aggressive approach than they did a year ago.
The impact has been obvious in the numbers and in the rhythm of the offense. Nix sits last among qualified quarterbacks in expected points added per dropback when pressured, and his production under duress has been limited to 9 completions on 27 attempts for 65 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Sean Payton has pointed to the defensive looks the Broncos are seeing, while Nixs reduced scrambling has raised another layer of concern, possibly tied to an ankle issue, leaving Denver with a problem that could grow quickly if it keeps showing up. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face An Early Playoff Swing Game In Week 4
The Broncos have spent the first three weeks of the 2026 season giving Sean Payton his best September start in Denver, and now they arrive at a familiar kind of early-season pressure point. At 2-1, they have already put themselves in a better spot than theyve been in at this stage under Payton, but Week 4 now carries the feel of a swing game before the schedule gets any deeper and more complicated.
Historical results from 2020 through 2025 suggest why the stakes feel so sharp: a 3-1 start has lined up with a much stronger path to the playoffs, while sliding to 2-2 has dragged that outlook down sharply. Those are only past trends, not official odds, but they underline what Denver is chasing this week - not just a strong record, but a record that can keep the Broncos in the kind of position that matters when the standings start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]