When the Broncos trim their roster to 53 players later this month, the biggest name decisions won’t just be about who gets waived. A small group of veterans will be cut outright, which means they’ll be free to sign anywhere immediately - even though a return to Denver’s practice squad would still be on the table once the dust settles.
That distinction matters because players with three or fewer accrued seasons go through waivers, while anyone entering their fourth accrued season is simply released. An accrued season, in this case, means a player spent at least six games on full-pay status, whether on the 53-man roster, injured reserve or the Physically Unable to Perform list. The PUP designation applies only to football-related injuries.
For Denver, five veterans fit that category and sit on the roster bubble.
Michael Bandy is in that group. He’s been around the Broncos for part or all of the last three seasons, mostly on the practice squad, but he’s also gotten regular game action through elevations and injury replacements.
Denver keeps him largely because he can block and because Sean Payton knows exactly what he brings. Bandy is not a strong bet to crack the final 53 unless the Broncos carry six receivers, but if he’s cut, the practice squad looks like a likely landing spot.
Jordan Peart’s situation is much more precarious. He arrived in 2024 on a one-year deal as the swing tackle, then landed a two-year extension in 2025 before missing most of that season because of injury.
He also renegotiated his salary for 2026. Right now, he’s battling just to stay on the roster after Frank Crum and undrafted rookie Tyler Miller both turned in strong preseason opener performances.
If Denver keeps those two in some capacity, Peart may not have a path.
Sam Ehlinger is another veteran who could be squeezed out. He signed with Denver in 2025, spent time on both the practice squad and active roster, and then chose to return in the offseason.
But the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons made it clear that Jarrett Stidham has a firm hold on the backup quarterback role. That could make Ehlinger expendable if the Broncos need the roster space elsewhere.
Still, he has said he likes playing for the coaching staff, so a practice squad return would not be a shock.
Special teams could be the thing that keeps Devon Key around, but his spot isn’t locked. Denver added him this offseason expecting depth and help in that phase of the game, and he did some good things on special teams in the preseason opener even if he didn’t stand out on defense.
It would be a surprise if he were cut, but his next two preseason games matter, as does whether the Broncos carry five safeties. If it doesn’t work out, he may choose to move on instead of sticking around on the practice squad.
Alex Forsyth has the kind of background that makes him easy for Payton to trust. He has spent multiple seasons on Denver’s practice squad with a few call-ups to the active roster, and he originally came from the New Orleans Saints.
In the preseason opener, he took a lot of snaps at center and handled them well. That gives him a real shot to make the active roster, but if the numbers don’t break his way, he could circle back to the practice squad.
Of the five, Key looks like the safest bet to make the 53-man roster, which could remove the practice squad question entirely. The other four are still tied to how Denver balances positions and sorts out the rest of the roster.
Forsyth, Bandy and Ehlinger look like the most realistic practice squad options among them, though one of those three could still sneak onto the active roster. Peart is the one most likely to be headed elsewhere, given where the Broncos stand on the offensive line.
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