Troy Franklin’s opportunity in Denver just got a lot bigger.
Through four games in 2026, the Broncos receiver has barely been involved. He’s been targeted only four times and has just two catches. That’s a sharp drop for a player who finished 2025 as the Broncos’ second-most targeted offensive skill player with 70 targets.
Now the door is open again. Denver lost breakout receiver Pat Bryant to an ankle injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. Bryant does not appear headed for a long-term or season-ending situation, but the Broncos still need someone to absorb those snaps, and Franklin is the next man up.
That kind of setup is nothing new for Franklin and Bo Nix. The two already have a built-in connection from their time together at Oregon, and Denver could use that chemistry now more than ever.
Franklin already showed last season what he can do when the ball finds him. He posted 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, and he became one of the Broncos’ most reliable options in the red zone and on two-point tries. It was a major leap from his rookie year, which was defined by missed chances and drops.
This season, though, Franklin has slipped behind both Jaylen Waddle and Pat Bryant. Through three games, he’s played 75 total snaps, which works out to 31 percent of Denver’s offensive snaps so far. If that number holds, it would be the lowest snap share of his NFL career, even below his rookie season, when he played 37 percent.
The Broncos are trying to get back on track in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but the offense still hasn’t put together its first truly “good” game of the year. Denver looked better against the Jacksonville Jaguars and put together a strong second half against the Rams, but the Chiefs game and the 49ers game were both rough.
Franklin isn’t going to fix all of that by himself. But he can bring some life to the offense and make the most of the chances that come his way. Bryant’s injury matters more than it may look at first glance, because he had been one of the few steady sources of production this season.
And Franklin does have the kind of game that can help. He’s not the same player as Bryant, but he can create after the catch, work the middle and deeper parts of the field, and turn limited touches into something bigger.
That’s especially important for Nix. He’s had a difficult start to 2026 after the ankle injury he suffered against Buffalo in the playoffs, and he hasn’t looked like the quarterback who has torn apart defenses in the past. The confidence just hasn’t been as obvious.
If Franklin gives Denver a lift now, it could do more than patch a short-term hole. It might also give the Broncos a reason to keep him in a larger role even after Bryant returns, possibly even at the expense of the struggling Courtland Sutton.
In Other News...
Broncos Finally Get A Chance To Fix Whats Holding This Offense Back
The Broncos have spent the early part of the season fighting for answers on offense, and now they get a chance to make some progress against a Chargers team dealing with plenty of its own problems. Los Angeles is still looking for its first win, and the issues around Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels system have made that side of the matchup far from clean. For Denver, it is the kind of opponent that can either provide a reset or expose how much work still remains.
After a stretch against stronger competition, the Broncos should see this as an opportunity to finally settle some of the things that have held the offense back. But a winless team can be a dangerous one if it is treated like a soft landing spot, especially in the AFC West where little margin exists for careless football. Denver does not just need the result, it needs proof that the offense can take advantage when the matchup is there. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Mims' Costly Mistake Has Broncos Fans Asking About Accountability
Marvin Mims spent the aftermath of a rough outing doing what players are supposed to do after a mistake, even if the admission was uncomfortable. The Broncos wide receiver said he did not go back and review the film on the play where he fumbled, and he went so far as to call it possibly his worst NFL game. For a Denver offense still trying to find cleaner execution, the moment landed as another reminder of how thin the margin can be when a key touch turns into a turnover.
The larger conversation around accountability did not stop with Mims, either. Former Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw took aim at Sean Payton after the game, and Payton did not push back in his postgame availability, instead responding positively to Greenlaws comments. Meanwhile, across the division, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was already talking about changing the approach around Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington, a sign that coaches on both sidelines are feeling the pressure to fix problems before they harden. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Need One Eagles Move Before The Trade Market Shifts
Philadelphias roster has already started to look different in the wake of the Cam Jurgens trade, and that kind of movement can reshape the market before the rest of the league catches up. The Eagles are dealing with a changing front as well, with Lane Johnson retired and the club sitting at 2-2, which makes any evaluation of their veteran talent more interesting for teams watching for an opening.
From Denvers side, the name worth tracking is Zack Baun, the inside linebacker who has recently earned both Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition. His contract is considered movable, and if the Eagles decide to keep adjusting their roster, the Broncos could make sense as a team ready to act before trade talks around the league shift into a more crowded market. [Read more 🡒]