Acclimating to the 2026 Denver Broncos 53-man roster
…and then there were 53.
On Sunday, the Denver Broncos announced the final 53-man roster for the 2026 season, cutting 27 preseason participants. One surprising name on the list was Justin Joly, who was selected as the No. 152 overall pick. This makes him the highest-pick waived by the Broncos at the roster deadline since Maurice Clarett in 2005. Joly's performance on the field, with only 1 reception for 0 yards against Atlanta and 2 receptions for 10 yards against Green Bay, suggests that his lackluster play may have contributed to his removal from the team.
The Broncos are known for their roster maneuvering and practice squad usage. In this case, they have released fullback Adam Prentice, who is expected to be elevated from the practice squad and potentially promoted to the 53-man roster by game 4. Mitchell Fraboni, the team's former left safety, has also been released, and George Paton has signed to the practice squad, providing the Broncos with added roster flexibility.
Tight end Lucas Krull, along with other veterans, will join the practice squad, adding to the confusion and aggravation surrounding the roster cuts. Jonathon Cooper, who was not cut, will start the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List due to multiple offseason incidents of alleged misconduct. Bo Nix, Jaylen Waddle, Nik Bonitto, and other marquee players will be back from preseason training as the Broncos aim to return to the AFC Championship game and beyond.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
