October 17th 2024.
The Denver Broncos received a much-needed boost for their upcoming Thursday night game against the Saints. They brought back three experienced players from injured reserve: right tackle Mike McGlinchey, outside linebacker Baron Browning, and cornerback Damarri Mathis. McGlinchey and Browning had both spent the minimum four weeks on IR, while Mathis had been out since late August. McGlinchey wasted no time getting back on the field, as he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup. This was crucial, especially with Alex Palczewski still sidelined due to an ankle injury. The Broncos also took advantage of two available roster spots by waiving rookie running back Blake Watson, who they hope to re-sign to the practice squad if he clears waivers on Friday. They also signed safety Tanner McCalister back to the practice squad as part of their flurry of transactions.
In addition to these roster moves, the Broncos also elevated inside linebacker Kwon Alexander and offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton from the practice squad for Thursday night's game. Both players have previous experience with the Saints, providing valuable veteran presence. Throckmorton has been elevated for the second consecutive game since center Luke Wattenberg was placed on injured reserve, while this is Alexander's first time being elevated since joining the practice squad in Week 4. The Broncos also had a few players ruled out for the game, including Palczewski and cornerback Pat Surtain II, who was already declared out on Wednesday. The rest of the inactives were TE Greg Dulcich, DL Eyioma Uwazurike, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, OLB Dondrea Tillman, and QB Zach Wilson.
In other news, three former Broncos coaches are still in the running for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2025 class. Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves, and Alex Gibbs are among the 12 remaining contenders after the latest cutdown. The list will eventually be narrowed down to nine, and then one coaching candidate will be selected for consideration by the selection committee. Shanahan, who led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl wins, has the most wins as a coach in franchise history. Reeves, who coached from 1981-1992, also made three Super Bowl appearances with the team. Gibbs, who passed away earlier this year, played a crucial role in the Broncos' run game and was their offensive line coach for two separate stints.
In other Broncos news, the team punted on their opening drive against the Saints, and columnist Mark Kiszla discusses the significance of Sean Payton's return to New Orleans as the Saints' coach. Payton played a significant role in rejuvenating the city after Hurricane Katrina and has a special connection with the community. The Broncos will have to face the challenge of preparing for a Thursday night game, while also dealing with injuries to key players like Surtain and McGlinchey, who is listed as questionable. The Broncos will have to put up a strong performance to match up against the Saints, and our experts give their predictions for the game. For more Broncos news, be sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all the latest NFL analysis.
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