The Broncos’ defense has been leaning on its depth all season, and Sunday’s win over the Chiefs gave them another example of why that matters. With injuries piling up across the linebacking corps and secondary, Denver has had to keep plugging in new pieces - and the results have held.
That’s been a point of concern for Sean Payton, who’s been watching how much time his defense is spending on the field. But Vance Joseph doesn’t seem rattled by it.
“When you lose one player, we have guys who can fill in who have the same skill set,” Joseph said, and he made it clear he isn’t shocked by the way those replacements have performed. His standard is simple: if a player doesn’t fit or can’t play, he shouldn’t be on the roster.
That approach showed up in the final moments against Kansas City. Joseph said he wasn’t worried at all during the last-second goal line stand, and he pointed to JL Skinner as a perfect example of how Denver’s system works. Skinner, Joseph said, has been “itching to play” for a long time.
Skinner did more than just get on the field. He stopped running back Kenneth Walker III at the goal line, a huge play in a game that came down to the wire. Skinner described himself as a hitter who “wakes up ready to tackle,” and he treated the moment like another part of the job.
He wasn’t the only reserve making a difference. Sai’vion Jones and Que Robinson, drafted one round apart in 2025, spent most of their rookie seasons waiting on the sideline before breaking through Sunday. The two helped flush quarterback Patrick Mahomes from the pocket and force an important incompletion on second down during the game-saving stand.
Denver has seen that kind of contribution before, too. Kris Abrams-Draine came up with a key fourth-quarter interception of Sam Darnold in the Broncos’ overtime win over the Seahawks in Week 6, and Devon Key has also stepped up at different times.
In Other News...
Broncos Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Define Their Ceiling
The Broncos are heading toward the 2026 NFL trade deadline with a roster that still looks like it needs a finishing touch, even after the progress they have made. Running back and tight end remain the clearest spots where help could matter, and that is why the conversation around Denver has started to turn from simple depth concerns to bigger questions about how aggressive the team should be if it wants to raise its ceiling.
There are already names circulating as possible fits for that kind of move, along with a separate idea that Denver could use the deadline to reshuffle its own roster in the process. It is the sort of decision that can shape not just the stretch run, but the way the Broncos are judged if they decide to stand pat, spend future assets, or make a bold swing before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Trade Buzz Just Shifted To Bo Nixs Protection
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Broncos conversation has started to tilt away from splashy skill-position ideas and toward something more practical: keeping Bo Nix upright. Denver has been linked to potential deadline targets, and while Jonathan Taylor has been mentioned as a notable option, ESPN also floated a more line-focused possibility in Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson, a name that immediately shifts the discussion to protection and stability up front.
The Broncos have no official indication they are moving in that direction, but the fit is easy to understand for a team sitting in a strong position in the division. If Denver decides to make a real push, the front office may have to weigh whether the best use of resources is adding another playmaker or fortifying the offensive line around its rookie quarterback, where one upgrade could ripple through the entire offense. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have An Intriguing Backfield Gamble To Consider
Denvers running back room has been thin enough this season that any available name with draft pedigree is going to draw attention, and Kendre Miller suddenly fits that description. The Saints moved on from the 2023 third-round pick, putting him on waivers and opening the door for teams in need of backfield help to take a look. For the Broncos, who have dealt with injuries and uneven production at the position all year, it is the kind of roster wrinkle that can quickly turn into a real personnel decision.
There is at least a plausible fit here because Denver has been searching for more stability in the backfield, and Millers availability creates a chance to add another young runner without waiting for the offseason. Whether the Broncos try to claim him or explore a trade, the interest makes sense on paper. The bigger question is how aggressive they want to be, and whether they see him as a depth piece, a developmental swing, or something more in a season where every healthy option matters. [Read more 🡒]