Hamler agreed to re-sign Wednesday with the Bills as a member of the practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Hamler spent the offseason competing for a depth role in Buffalo's wide receiver room, and though he didn't make the team's initial 53-man roster, he will get a chance to continue his development via the practice squad. As a player also capable of contributing at running back and on special teams, Hamler's versatility will give him opportunities for elevation to the active roster during the regular season.
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KJ Hamler: Set to be waived
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The Bills are waiving Hamler, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Hamler, who had been competing for a depth wideout role with the Bills, also got some reps in at RB during the team's preseason finale. While the 2020 second-rounder isn't going to be on Buffalo's initial roster, Hamler shouldn't be without a roster or practice squad spot for long.
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Bills' KJ Hamler: Scores rushing TD in preseason loss
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Hamler rushed three times for 21 yards and a touchdown while catching all three of his targets for 11 yards in Saturday's 31-26 preseason loss to the Panthers.
Hamler got some reps at running back after Frank Gore (knee) and Darrynton Evans (hamstring) exited Saturday's game, while top three running backs James Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson were resting Saturday. The former Broncos wide receiver filled in admirably, breaking off an 18-yard gain on the ground and running in a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The ability to fill in at running back is another feather in the cap for the versatile Hamler, who also contributes on special teams as a return man. That versatility should help Hamler secure a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Cardinals
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Bills' KJ Hamler: Joins Bills on reserve/future deal
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The Bills signed Hamler (undisclosed) to a reserve/future contract Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Hamler was placed on the Colts' practice squad injured list Dec. 1 with an undisclosed injury. His practice squad contract with Indianapolis ended Monday and he now joins the Bills later in the week. Hamler won't be eligible to play in the postseason, but he will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in Buffalo next season.
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KJ Hamler: Placed on injured list
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The Colts placed Hamler (undisclosed) on the practice squad injured list Friday.
The nature of Hamler's injury hasn't been disclosed, but he has yet to suit up for a game with the Colts since inking with the team's practice squad in late September, so the move changes little for the team's offense. With Hamler sidelined for some time, Ethan Fernea has been signed to the practice squad.
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KJ Hamler: Joins practice squad
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Hamler (pectoral/pericarditis) signed with the Colts' practice squad Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Hamler underwent surgery in March to repair a partially torn pectoral before being diagnosed with pericarditis in late July. The latter issue led to him being waived by the Broncos with a non-football illness designation. His addition to the Colts' practice squad indicates his health is back up to par, so he will now look to make an impression at practice.
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KJ Hamler: Visits with Colts
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Hamler (pectoral/pericarditis) had a visit with the Colts on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hamler dealt with a pair of health-related issues in the offseason, undergoing surgery in March to repair a partially torn pectoral before being diagnosed with pericarditis in late July. The latter spurred the Broncos to waive him with a non-football illness designation July 31, and one day later coach Sean Payton noted Hamler's recovery should last about six weeks, factoring in time to ramp up his conditioning. It's officially been six weeks since those comments, so it appears teams are starting to inquire about the current state of Hamler's health.
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KJ Hamler: Could return in six weeks
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Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that Hamler (pectoral/pericarditis) could return in around six weeks, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
It's been a rough offseason for Hamler, who had surgery in March on a partially torn pectoral and more recently was diagnosed with a heart condition called pericarditis. The Broncos waived him Monday with a non-football illness designation, but they apparently intend to bring the 2020 second-round pick back into the fold at some point. With Hamler likely to miss the start of the season and Tim Patrick out for the year with an Achilles tear, rookie second-round pick Marvin Mims has a chance to join Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton in three-wide sets right out of the gate.
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KJ Hamler: Officially let go, expected back
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The Broncos officially waived Hamler (pectoral) with a non-football illness designation Monday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.
Hamler, who's still recovering from offseason pectoral surgery, revealed on his personal Instagram account Monday that he has also been diagnosed with pericarditis. The Broncos have officially waived him to clear a roster spot, but he's expected to be re-signed by Denver when healthy. If he would've been placed on the reserve/NFI list before the regular season, Hamler would've been forced to miss the entire 2023 campaign, so by letting him go now, Hamler still has a chance to play this season. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Hamler's condition is expected to keep him out for weeks, not months, so there's optimism he could return relatively early in the campaign.
The Broncos intend to waived Hamler (pectoral) on Monday with a non-football illness designation, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Hamler missed the entire offseason program following March surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral, which was expected to take 4-to-6 months of recovery. Denver eventually placed him on the active/non-football injury list on the eve of training camp, but he'll instead focus on treatment away from the team to address a diagnosis of pericarditis, which Hamler revealed on his personal Instagram account Monday, per Mike Klis of 9News Denver. With Tim Patrick likely sustaining a torn Achilles at Monday's practice, the Broncos' depth at wide receiver has thinned out behind Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Lands on non-football injury list
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The Broncos placed Hamler (pectoral) on the active/non-football injury list Sunday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Hamler tore his pectoral ahead of the team's offseason workouts and was a limited participant during OTAs in May and June minicamp. It's unclear when he'll be available, but he's eligible to practice and/or play at any point during the preseason. When healthy, Hamler will compete for a spot in Denver's wideout corps that also features Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Small contract restructure
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The Broncos and Hamler (pectoral) agreed Friday on a slight contract restructure, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Hamler and Denver have agreed to adjust the final year of his rookie deal, adding $417,000 in incentives and a team-friendly IR clause while leaving the base salary of $1.58 million intact. The 2020 second-round pick has appeared in just 10 contests in the last two seasons, and he's currently targeting training camp as a return date from his pectoral injury. Once healthy, Hamler will face competition from Marvin Mims for a role behind starting wideouts Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Eyeing return during training camp
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Hamler (pectoral) said Wednesday that he should be fully cleared by training camp, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.
Hamler, whose 2022 campaign was cut short by a hamstring issue, underwent surgery in March to repair a partially torn pectoral that he sustained while training on his own at the beginning of the offseason. He was expected to miss 4-to-6 months while rehabbing, but he appears to be progressing ahead of schedule. When healthy, Hamler will compete with Marvin Mims for a depth role behind Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Has partially torn pectoral repaired
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Hamler recently underwent surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral that he sustained while training on his own, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The report notes that Hamler's recovery timeline is in the 4-to-6-month range, a scenario that gives the wideout a chance to be ready as soon as the start of training camp in late July. Hamler's 2022 season was cut short by a hamstring issue that landed him on IR, and the 2020 second-rounder now will have to move past his latest injury setback in order to compete for a role in 2023 in a Denver wideout corps that also includes fellow returnees Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick (knee). In seven games last season, Hamler was limited to seven catches for 165 yards.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Done for season
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Hamler (hamstring) won't play again during the 2022 season after he was placed on injured reserve last week due to a setback experienced in practice, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.
Hamler said the setback in question occurred in the Broncos' Nov. 30 practice, when he slipped awkwardly while running on indoor turf. Prior to aggravating the hamstring injury, Hamler had missed the Broncos' previous three games. After having most of his 2021 campaign wiped out by an ACL tear, Hamler managed to play in seven games in 2022, finishing with a 7-165-0 receiving line on 14 targets. Though he won't make it back for Denver's final five games, Hamler is expected to have a healthy and productive offseason as he heads into the last year of his rookie contract in 2023.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Shifted to IR after setback
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Hamler (hamstring) was moved to injured reserve Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Hamler could technically return for the team's final two games, but it's more likely given the Broncos' record the speedy receiver is done for the season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a Week 8 hamstring injury. The 23-year-old has tallied just 14 targets in seven games this season, although he has recorded three receptions of 40-plus yards despite the limited opportunities.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Out indefinitely after setback
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Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said Hamler will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury during Wednesday's practice, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports. "We're still evaluating everything right now," Hackett said, when asked if Hamler will play again this season. "Obviously his care is our No. 1 priority, so we want to be sure we're doing everything to help him get back."
Hamler hasn't played since Week 8 due to the hamstring injury, but he was spotted working out on a side field during practice late last week and looked as though he might have a chance to play this Sunday in Baltimore. However, after his latest setback on the health front, Hamler can now safely be ruled out for Week 13, and likely additional games to follow. Even on the rare occasions in which he has been available over the past two seasons, Hamler has struggled to produce fantasy-friendly numbers. Over seven appearances in 2022, he's cobbled together a 7-165-0 receiving line on 14 targets.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Not practicing
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Hamler (hamstring) won't practice Wednesday, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports.
With Hamler and Jerry Jeudy (ankle) both in danger of missing another game, Kendall Hinton and Brandon Johnson could occupy top-three roles at receiver again his Sunday in Baltimore. Targets have been few and far between for Hamler this season even when he's been healthy, which hasn't been often.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Ruled out against Panthers
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Hamler (hamstring) won't play Sunday against the Panthers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Denver will remain shorthanded at wide receiver with both Hamler and Jerry Jeudy (ankle) sitting out this weekend. The former last saw the field Week 8, and with Hamler's hamstring injury still keeping him from practicing, he's far from a sure thing to return to action Week 13 versus Baltimore.
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Broncos' KJ Hamler: Set to miss practice Wednesday
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Hamler (hamstring) won't practice Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Fellow wideout Jerry Jeudy (ankle) is also sitting out Wednesday, with both players viewed as day-to-day as Sunday's game against the Panthers approaches. Hamler, who last suited up in Week 8, has recorded seven catches on 14 targets for 165 yards through seven appearances this season.
