The Denver Broncos made another tweak to their roster ahead of Monday night’s regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, and this one looks more like a short-term shuffle than a real goodbye.
Wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey was released in what beat reporter Chris Tomasson described as a "procedural move." Humphrey is expected to come back to the team after Week 1, with the Broncos leaving open the possibility that he returns to either the practice squad or the 53-man roster.
"It gives Broncos roster flexibility. Humphrey will be at the game tonight watching.
He wasn't going to be active anyhow as Denver's No. 6 receiver," Tomasson noted, adding, "Lil'Jordan Humphrey told me last week there was no discussion of him prior to the Aug. 30 cutdown date of him starting the season on the practice squad as a vested veteran. He made the initial 53 as the sixth receiver.
We'll see which roster he goes to when returning to Broncos."
Humphrey has been a Sean Payton favorite for a while, going back to their New Orleans days. He played in seven games last season and finished with nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Denver brought him back this offseason, then cut him during final roster trimming before circling back to him on the practice squad.
Payton had plenty to say about Humphrey in August, praising both the veteran’s conditioning and his football IQ. "It’s unusual for someone his age.
We do all the metrics and they wear the chips, but his weight’s down," Payton said in August of the 28-year-old Humphrey. "His movement on the field, acceleration, top-end speed is higher last season and now than it was when he was here earlier.
They’re able to measure that with the Catapult. So he’s extremely smart, that’s probably one of his superpowers.
He can play all three positions, and he’s a big target.
The Broncos filled Humphrey’s spot by elevating fullback Adam Prentice and long snapper Mitch Fraboni to the active roster for Monday Night Football in Kansas City.
Even with Payton’s clear preference, Humphrey wasn’t climbing the depth chart. He was no better than fifth at receiver, sitting behind Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, and Marvin Mims while also competing for looks with third-year wideout Troy Franklin.
There’s also a football reason Denver may be comfortable making this move. Humphrey is arguably the team’s best run-blocking receiver, but the Broncos appear confident they can still get J.K.
Dobbins and RJ Harvey rolling without him. Prentice being elevated only helps that effort.
Humphrey should be back in the mix soon enough, and the expectation is that he’ll be on the field at some point in 2026. The next possible chance comes as soon as next week, when the Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their home opener at Empower Field.
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