Through three weeks, the Broncos’ linebacker group has given Denver too little to work with, and the most glaring issue sits with Alex Singleton.
Justin Strnad has held up reasonably well. Singleton, on the other hand, has not offered much beyond a big tackle count, and that number can be deceptive. He’s not making plays in the backfield, he’s not helping in coverage, and his missed tackle rate is sitting at 15.4 percent, which would be the highest mark of his career.
That leaves Denver in a spot where the room may have actually gotten worse despite all the linebacker talent that was available in free agency and the NFL Draft. At this point, the Broncos don’t have much to lose by reaching out to Bobby Wagner.
Wagner remains a free agent nearly a month into the season, which says plenty on its own. The longtime Seattle Seahawk, who also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders, is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best linebackers ever to play the position.
He played in all 17 games over each of the last four NFL seasons, starting all but one of them. In 2025 with Washington, Wagner put up two interceptions, four defended passes, 4.5 sacks, 162 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits.
He’s not the same player he once was, and he’s clearly slower now, but he still found ways to impact games last season. He got into the backfield, created negative plays, and, while coverage has never been his strongest trait, Pro Football Reference says he allowed an 89.4 passer rating when targeted over the past two seasons.
If Wagner were still good enough to be an unquestioned starter, he probably wouldn’t be sitting out there. But given how thin the Broncos are at the position, there’s no real downside to at least making the call and seeing whether a workout makes sense.
Denver may not have a clean path to a major upgrade at linebacker right now. Still, if the front office doesn’t act, the unit isn’t likely to improve on its own.
In Other News...
49ers Injury Concerns Could Open A Big Door For Denver
The Broncos head into Week 4 in a much cleaner spot physically than a lot of teams around the league, with rookie running back Jonah Coleman on injured reserve and expected back in Week 7, while key pieces such as Mims are working their way back from injury. There is still some uncertainty on Denvers side, including the possibility that Tillman may not be available, but overall this is a team that can focus on football rather than the daily churn of the injury report.
San Francisco, meanwhile, is carrying a longer list of concerns, and one of the biggest is the absence of Bosa because of a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for several games. For Denver, that kind of situation can change the complexion of a matchup quickly, especially when a pass rush centerpiece is missing and depth gets tested. It is the sort of opening the Broncos have to be ready to press if they want to turn a cleaner bill of health into a real advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Coach Is Pushing A Kickoff Change The NFL May Have To Hear
Darren Rizzi is already trying to shape the next conversation around kickoffs, and it is one that goes beyond Denvers own special teams room. The Broncos special teams coach wants the league to consider limiting the use of holders on kickoffs, arguing they should only be allowed when weather makes them necessary. To make sure the idea gets real traction, he has organized a conference call among special teams coordinators to talk through the issue.
Rizzis push comes in the wake of earlier NFL changes to kickoff procedures, which have already altered how teams approach one of the games most specialized plays. His concern is that the current setup can give clubs an unfair advantage, and the discussion now figures to test whether enough coaches around the league see the same problem. For Denver, it is another sign that Rizzi is not just managing the third phase, but trying to influence how it is played. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Fans Had Every Reason To Worry About Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle gave Broncos fans a brief scare after being seen in a walking boot following Week 3, the kind of sight that can set off alarms no matter how cautious the initial reporting might be. Sean Payton moved quickly to cool things down, calling the boot a precaution, and Waddle then took part in a full practice, easing the immediate concern around one of Denvers more important playmakers.
Still, the episode served as a reminder of how fragile the margin is this time of year, especially for a Broncos offense trying to keep its footing while the rest of the division sorts itself out. Across the AFC West, Jim Harbaugh is pushing his Chargers to dig out of an 0-3 hole, while Kansas City is juggling its own health questions and role evaluations, which only adds to the sense that every practice report matters a little more than usual. [Read more 🡒]