The Denver Broncos’ first Week 4 injury report brought a little of everything on Wednesday: some encouraging signs at wide receiver and running back, and one notable new concern on defense.
Wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims were both full practice participants after dealing with foot injuries, and both are expected to be available for Sunday’s road game against the San Francisco 49ers. Running back J.K. Dobbins, listed with a hip issue, was also a full participant.
The question mark is outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who did not practice because of an apparent hamstring injury. The team has not said how serious it is.
Tillman has been on the field in all three games this season for Denver in his third year with the club. He has 10 combined tackles, including six solo stops, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits in 77 defensive snaps. He has also logged 61 snaps on special teams.
“It’s just getting those live snaps. He has good decision making, keen to diagnose.
He’s smart," head coach Sean Payton said of Tillman in 2025. "There’s a growth period that every one of these guys has to the system and what we’re doing.
Some of it is exponential or faster than others. Some of it takes a little while.
He’s picked things up.”
If Tillman is unavailable, Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson would likely see more work opposite Nik Bonitto. That would come as Denver continues to deal with the absence of starting OLB Jonathon Cooper, who remains on the NFL's commissioner's exempt list.
"I feel good [about the depth at the position]," Payton told reporters Wednesday.
Denver’s next test comes Sunday at 2:25 pm ET at Levi's Stadium, where the Broncos will face a 3-0 San Francisco team that had several players listed as DNPs of its own. Among them were RB Christian McCaffrey (rest), defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), wide receiver Mike Evans (rib), left tackle Trent Williams (neck), and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad).
The 49ers also listed DEs Romello Height (hand) and Mykel Williams (knee) as limited participants.
Both teams will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing updated game statuses.
In Other News...
Broncos Just Got A Reminder Of Where They Stand With CBS
The broadcast assignments for this week offered a small but telling reminder of how CBS is viewing the AFC West picture. Rather than placing its top crew on Broncos-49ers, the network sent Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt to Raiders-Chiefs, leaving Denvers matchup to a different booth in the same time slot. For Broncos fans, it was the kind of selection that tends to sting a little, especially when the alternative is a game that could carry more weight on the field.
The reaction followed quickly, with plenty of fans arguing that star power and familiar storylines won out over the more compelling football. It also served as another confirmation that Tony Romo remains away from CBS broadcasts, even as the network leans on its other marquee voices for the biggest windows. For Denver, the message was hard to miss: the Broncos still have to earn their place in the spotlight before CBS treats them like a featured game. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Took An Unusual Risk In Denvers Comeback Win
Sean Payton did something out of character in Denvers comeback win over the Rams, and it helped swing the game. The Broncos pulled out a 30-26 victory with a pair of successful two-point conversions in the third quarter, a stretch of aggression from a coach who usually leans conservative in that part of the game. The calls were not just bold in the abstract, either, with one built around a pass from Bo Nix to Jaylen Waddle and another coming off a trick look involving Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant.
For Payton, the moves stood out because they ran against his usual preference to avoid going for two that early. It was the kind of in-game shift that can define a close win, especially when a team is trying to claw back against a quality opponent. The Broncos got the result they needed, but the more interesting part may be what it says about how far Payton is willing to push the envelope when the moment calls for it. [Read more 🡒]
J.K. Dobbins Is Raising A Bigger Broncos Concern Than Fans Expected
J.K. Dobbins arrived in Denver with the expectation that he could give the Broncos a steadier presence in the backfield, but the early returns have been more complicated than anyone wanted. His rushing average has slipped to 3.5 yards per carry to start the 2026 season, a steep drop from a career mark above 5.0, and the numbers around him are just as thin: four first downs, no touchdowns and one fumble.
The bigger issue is what the film appears to show. Analyst Cecil Lammey pointed to Dobbins hesitation and reduced explosiveness, suggesting injuries may be part of the problem even with solid run blocking in front of him. He also left a game early with a possible hamstring injury, and for a Broncos offense that expected more stability there, the concern now is whether this is a temporary dip or something that could linger. [Read more 🡒]