The Denver Broncos needed a minute to find their rhythm on Sunday, but once they did, it was a feel-good story that jumpstarted their offense-and it came from an unlikely source. After a scoreless first quarter against the Green Bay Packers, Denver finally broke through with a short touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Bo Nix to wide receiver Michael Bandy. That score not only gave the Broncos a 7-6 lead, it marked a long-awaited personal milestone for Bandy.
And here’s the kicker: Bandy had only just been elevated from the practice squad the day before.
The 28-year-old wideout, now in his fifth NFL season, was called up to the active roster on Saturday after rookie receiver Pat Bryant was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Bandy didn’t see much action-just two snaps all game-but he made one of them count in a major way, hauling in his first career touchdown reception. For a player who's spent years grinding behind the scenes, it was a moment that resonated far beyond the box score.
“He's not really behind the scenes much at practice, man,” said veteran offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey. “You watch Mike Bandy just make plays all day long.
Whether it’s scout team, whether it’s offense-whatever. He dices people up out there.”
McGlinchey’s words weren’t just lip service. Around the locker room, Bandy is known as a guy who brings it every day, regardless of whether he's on the field or the scout team. Sunday was his chance to show it on the big stage-and he delivered.
“Really cool to see him punch one in today,” McGlinchey added. “Bandy is one of the best people on the football team, and he continues to just grind every day for an opportunity like that. He just punched it home for us in a big moment that we needed and started kind of the run that we had today offensively.”
Bo Nix, who’s been steadily growing into his role as Denver’s signal-caller, echoed that sentiment after the game.
“That was awesome to see,” Nix said. “Especially getting us going like that and having the first one of the day.”
The touchdown sparked a shift in momentum for the Broncos, who had struggled to get anything going early. And while Bandy’s stat line won’t jump off the page-one catch, one touchdown-it was the kind of play that can galvanize a locker room. It’s the payoff for years of quiet work, the reward for a guy who’s stayed ready despite being buried on the depth chart.
On social media, Broncos fans lit up with support for Bandy, celebrating the perseverance and production from a player who’s become something of a cult favorite among those who follow the team closely. It’s not every day a fifth-year practice squad call-up gets his first NFL touchdown-and it’s even rarer when that moment helps spark a team’s offensive turnaround.
Next up for Denver: a Week 16 home matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whether Bandy sees the field again remains to be seen, but if Sunday showed us anything, it’s that when his number is called, he’s ready to make it count.