Broncos' Kristian Williams: Gets future deal with Denver
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The Broncos signed Williams (undisclosed) to a reserve/future contract Thursday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Williams reached an injury settlement with the Broncos in early September. The nature and severity of the injury weren't disclosed, but the Missouri product will be on Denver's 90-man roster for the offseason, giving him the opportunity to participate in OTAs and minicamp.
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Broncos' JL Skinner: Won't play against New England
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Skinner (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Patriots, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Skinner popped up on Friday's injury report as a limited participant due to a quadriceps injury, which is severe enough for him to not play Sunday. Devon Key will serve as the Broncos' depth option at safety behind starters Talanoa Hufanga and P.J. Locke in Skinner's absence.
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Broncos' JL Skinner: Questionable for Sunday
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Skinner (quadriceps) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.
Skinner has been a reliable depth piece for most of the Broncos' season, but a downgrade to limited participation in Friday's practice may mean the backup safety will not be able to suit up for Sunday's game. The 24-year-old is primarily a special-teams player, and if he is unable to take the field, another defensive back or wide receiver will likely take over his snaps.
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Broncos' Drew Sanders: Unavailable due to ankle
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Sanders (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.
Sanders has yet to make his season debut, having started the year on injured reserve. The third-year linebacker had his 21-day practice window opened this past Saturday. The 24-year-old was able to practice fully throughout the week, but will ultimately not be activated for Sunday's game. The Broncos currently have 10 active linebackers, and the availability within the unit is likely one of the reasons that Sanders will have to continue to wait for a shot to suit up.
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Broncos' Drew Sanders: Won't return for divisional round
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Sanders (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's AFC divisional-round tilt against the Bills, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Sanders opened the season on injured reserve while recovering from an offseason procedure to repair a torn ligament in his foot. His 21-day practice window opened this past Saturday, and while he was able to log a full practice Thursday, he hasn't progressed enough in his recovery to be activated from injured reserve ahead of the divisional round. Sanders' next chance to make his season debut will be the AFC Championship Game if the Broncos triumph over the Bills on Saturday.
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Broncos' Dre Greenlaw: Will play against Buffalo
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Greenlaw (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation for Saturday's AFC divisional-round game against the Bills, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Greenlaw ended the week with a full practice Thursday, which was enough for him to avoid an injury designation for Saturday's contest. The veteran linebacker missed the Broncos' final two games of the regular season while nursing a hamstring injury and enjoyed additional rest thanks to the Broncos' wild-card round bye as the top seed in the AFC. With Greenlaw starting alongside Alex Singleton at inside linebacker, Justin Strnad and Karene Reid will provide depth at the position.
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Broncos' Dre Greenlaw: Should return Saturday vs. Buffalo
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Greenlaw (hamstring) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.
Greenlaw missed the final two games of the regular season due to a hamstring injury. The Broncos enjoyed a bye for the wild-card as the AFC's No. 1 seed, and with that additional rest, the veteran linebacker is expected to be available for Saturday's divisional-round tilt against Buffalo, per Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Greenlaw will have two more opportunities this week to increase his practice participation and avoid an injury designation ahead of the divisional round.
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Broncos' P.J. Locke: Good to go for divisional round
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Locke (leg) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Locke suffered a leg injury during the Broncos' Week 18 win over the Chargers. He had an extra week to recover from the injury thanks to the Broncos' bye to the divisional round, and with his full pratice Tuesday, Locke is on track to play against the Bills on Saturday. He ended the 2025 regular season with 16 tackles (nine solo) and three pass defenses over 16 games while serving on both defense and special teams.
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Broncos' John Franklin-Myers: Logs full practice Tuesday
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Franklin-Myers (hip) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Franklin-Myers was held out of the Broncos' regular-season finale against the Chargers on Jan. 4. He enjoyed an additional week of rest courtesy of the Broncos' first-round playoff bye as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the veteran pass rusher is on track to play against the Bills on Saturday. Franklin-Myers ended the 2025 regular season with 25 tackles (12 solo), including a career-high 7.5 sacks, across 16 games.
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Broncos' Brandon Jones: Out at least two more games
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Jones (pectoral) could be a candidate to return to action for Super Bowl LX, if the Broncos advance to that point in the postseason, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.
Jones was placed on IR in mid-December and subsequently underwent surgery to repair a torn pec suffered Week 15 versus the Packers. While he could be a candidate to return early February, Jones will remain sidelined for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Bills or the AFC Championship Game, leaving P.J. Locke (leg) to continue filling in as Denver's starting free safety.
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Broncos' Drew Sanders: Practice window opens
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Sanders (foot) was designated to return from the injured reserve list Saturday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.
Sanders, a 2023 third-round pick from Arkansas, was sidelined for the entire regular season due to a foot injury sustained in training camp. However, it now appears he could return for the Broncos' playoff run. If activated to the active roster prior to Denver's divisional-round matchup next weekend, Sanders will likely operate as one of the team's top reserve inside linebackers.
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Broncos' Dre Greenlaw: Expected back for divisional round
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Greenlaw (hamstring) is expected to suit up for the Broncos' divisional round matchup, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Coach Sean Payton said that the team will "see most everyone back" in time for whatever home matchup the Broncos draw in the divisional round. The return of the linebacker would bolster a defense that already leads the NFL in sacks with 68. Greenlaw's return means that Karene Reid and Justin Strnad will likely see a reduction in defensive snaps.
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Broncos' Nik Bonitto: Sets career high in sacks in 2025
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Bonitto recorded 46 tackles (31 solo), including 14.0 sacks, one pass defensed and two forced fumbles across 17 games in 2025 with the Broncos.
Bonitto continued to dominate as a pass rusher while recording a career-high 14.0 sacks, which was fifth-most in the NFL this season. The 26-year-old linebacker led all Broncos defenders in sacks, as he and fellow edge rusher Jonathon Cooper continued to work together as one of the best edge-rush duos in the league. Bonitto signed a four-year extension in September, so he'll continue to be a centerpiece of the Broncos' formidable defensive unit in 2026 and beyond. The Oklahoma product should remain a solid IDP option for fantasy purposes next season.
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Broncos' Jonathon Cooper: Finishes 2025 with 8.0 sacks
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Cooper recorded 50 tackles (23 solo), including 8.0 sacks, and four passes defensed over 17 games in 2025.
Cooper continued to be a key contributor for Denver's top-tier pass rushing unit in 2025, recording the second-most sacks of any Broncos defender behind only Nik Bonitto (14.0). The 28-year-old linebacker signed a four-year extension in 2024, keeping Cooper and Bonitto under contract together for the foreseeable future. Cooper's continued development should help him to build upon his performance as one of the leaders of Denver's defense in 2026.
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Broncos' Zach Allen: Records 7.0 sacks in 2025
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Allen finished the 2025 regular season with 38 tackles (14 solo), including 7.0 sacks, and six passes defensed across 17 games.
Allen had another strong season with the Broncos, as the seventh-year defensive lineman continued to be a difference maker as a member of the team's formidable defense. The 28-year-old proved that he could still disrupt an opponent's game plan with his ability to get to the quarterback. Allen's 7.0 sacks were his second most in a single season and the fourth-highest total among Broncos defenders this season. Allen's signed a four-year extension with Denver in August, so he'll reprise his role as a key defensive contributor for the 2026 campaign following Denver's 2025 postseason run.
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Broncos' Riley Moss: Logs career high in defensed passes
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Moss posted 80 tackles (57 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and 19 passes defensed (including one interception) over 17 games in 2025.
Moss finished a solid third season with the Broncos, leading the team in passes defensed and recording the first sack of his young career. The 25-year-old cornerback's 80 tackles counted for the third-highest total among Broncos defenders behind only linebacker Alex Singleton (135) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (106). Playing opposite of arguably the best corner in the game in Patrick Surtain, Moss did a solid job helping to make Denver's secondary one of the strongest units in the league this season. The Iowa product will enter the final year of his rookie deal next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Moss should continue to stay busy during the 2026 campaign as offenses choose to shy away from throwing in Surtain's direction.
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Broncos' Talanoa Hufanga: Sets career high in tackles
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Hufanga recorded 106 tackles (67 solo), including 2.0 sacks, 11 passes defensed and one forced fumble over 17 games in 2025.
Hufanga's first year with the Broncos was undoubtedly a success, as the veteran safety finished the season with the second-most tackles of any Broncos defender behind only Alex Singleton (135). The 25-year-old signed a three-year deal with Denver in 2025 after spending the first four years of his career in San Francisco, and he has proven to be a key contributor for the Broncos in just his first season with the team. Looking ahead to the 2026 campaign, Hufanga will look to build upon his strong start in the Mile High City, helping the Broncos to continue to boast one of the league's best defenses again next season.
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Broncos' Karene Reid: Activated from IR
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The Broncos activated Reid (hamstring) to the 53-man roster from injured reserve Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Reid had been a full participant in practice the last three weeks, so had he not been activated Tuesday his 21-day window would have expired, causing him to revert to season-ending IR. Instead, the undrafted rookie will stand to handle a role on special teams during the postseason, beginning in the AFC divisional round.
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Broncos' P.J. Locke: Leaves game with leg injury
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Locke (leg) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chargers, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
Locke is being evaluated on the sidelines by medical staff to determine whether he can return to Sunday's game. JL Skinner and Devon Key are in line for more snaps at safety for as long as Locke is out of the game.
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Broncos' John Franklin-Myers: Unavailable for Week 18
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Franklin-Myers (hip) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official website reports.
Franklin-Myers was limited at practice throughout the week while nursing a hip injury, and he'll now be forced to take a seat in the team's regular-season finale. In his absence, Malcolm Roach is a top candidate to garner a start on the defensive line versus Los Angeles.
