Pat Bryant is back, and the Broncos are making a few other roster moves to get through Sunday’s trip to Carolina.
Denver officially activated Bryant from injured reserve on Saturday after he spent four weeks there, then created room by placing defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike on IR. The Broncos also elevated safety Taylor Rapp and running back Cody Schrader from the practice squad and signed cornerback/returner Sean Fresch Jr. to the 53-man roster.
Bryant’s return gives the Broncos another weapon as the passing game starts to come alive. He went down in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers with an ankle injury that looked far worse in the moment than it turned out to be. Bryant was carted off, but the injury was only a sprain.
The Broncos can use him. He brings size at 6-foot-2, wins at the line of scrimmage, and can use that frame to shield defenders.
Bo Nix has already built a strong connection with Bryant, and that chemistry should keep Bryant involved even with Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle also in the mix. Nix trusts him, and Bryant’s work as a perimeter blocker should help a run game that is still trying to find its footing.
Uwazurike’s move to IR comes after he hurt his shoulder in last week’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Denver clearly decided his recovery would take longer than three weeks, which makes him eligible to return in Week 14.
That absence forces a shuffle up front. Uwazurike had been the fourth man in the Broncos’ defensive line rotation, so Jordan Jackson could see more snaps, and rookie third-rounder Tyler Onyedim may also get a look. Onyedim has been a healthy scratch in all eight games so far.
Sai’vion Jones could slide into Uwazurike’s role as the fourth lineman, though Jackson jumping ahead of him would not be a surprise. And with Onyedim’s strength against the run, there’s at least a chance this injury opens the door for the rookie to dress and maybe even play.
Fresch’s promotion is a nice reward for a first-year player who has already been elevated from the practice squad several times this season and has done solid work on special teams, including return duties. The Broncos clearly like the former UFL standout, even if he may be the first roster casualty when other players come off IR. Still, Denver would likely hope to bring him back to the practice squad.
Rapp’s elevation carries a different kind of urgency. This is his third and final practice squad call-up, so after Sunday the Broncos will have to either sign him to the 53-man roster or release him.
If they cut him before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, he could re-sign to the practice squad right away and reset his elevation count. After the deadline, as a vested veteran, Denver would have to waive him first, leaving him available for another team to claim before he could return to the practice squad.
The expectation is that the Broncos will release him before the deadline, likely immediately after Sunday’s game.
Schrader is back up too, and Denver needs the help. With RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie both on IR, the Broncos have only two healthy running backs on the 53-man roster: Jonah Coleman and J.K.
Dobbins. Schrader impressed in the preseason in August, and this is his second elevation of the year, though he has not yet touched the ball.
There’s also a chance Talanoa Hufanga plays Sunday, even though he’s listed as questionable. He has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, and if he sits again, it would raise questions about why Denver didn’t place him on IR and use the roster spot.
Brandon Jones has already been ruled out with a hamstring, so the Broncos are likely to roll with Hufanga and Rapp at safety, with plenty of Devon Key mixed in.
Broncos-Panthers kicks off at 11 a.m. MDT on Sunday and will air locally on CBS with Ian Eagle and Ross Tucker on the call.
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