Denver Broncos safety JL Skinner is back in the mix after surgery and has been medically cleared to take part in training camp.
Skinner recently said he played through a torn labrum last season, and now he’s ready to get back on the field, according to a report from Adam La Rose of ProFootballRumors.com via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post.
That matters for Skinner’s future as much as anything. The 2026 season is the final year of his rookie deal, and he’s trying to position himself for what comes next. Denver took him in the sixth round, but his 2023 season was cut down to just two games.
Since then, he’s carved out a role almost entirely on special teams. Over the last two seasons, Skinner has appeared in 33 games, with 634 special teams snaps and only 53 on defense. La Rose noted that the split should stay about the same this year.
Skinner has earned a reputation as a reliable special teams contributor, but the path to a starting role is crowded. Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones are ahead of him, which leaves Skinner fighting for value in the margins.
That means another strong year on special teams could be his best argument for a second contract next spring, especially if it comes alongside another deep playoff run for the Broncos.
There’s also room for Denver to keep adjusting around him. La Rose added that the Broncos still have nearly $30 million in cap space, so they could bring in more competition in the secondary or on special teams if they want. Even so, Skinner’s availability gives the team a little more comfort heading into camp.
At the same time, his situation could still push him elsewhere after this season. Starting jobs are tough to find in Denver, and there are other places around the league where he could realistically compete for one.
That’s the reality for players in Skinner’s lane. Special teams standouts often bounce around, trying to land somewhere that gives them a real shot at stability.
Skinner does have one thing working for him: the Broncos know he’ll play through pain. That kind of toughness matters to Sean Payton, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph also values dependable backups who can step in and handle business as the next man up.
Whether Skinner is limited at all in camp remains to be seen, but for now, he’s cleared and back in position to fight for his job.
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