The Denver Broncos have officially set their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, trimming a massive 91 players down to the squad heading into Week 1. And let me tell you, there were some absolute shockers, with three rookies getting waived, but the biggest jaw-dropper has to be Jaleel McLaughlin getting let go, right alongside Drew Sanders. Talk about a curveball nobody saw coming!
Who’s In and Who’s Out: Offensive Shocks and Holds
Seriously, who saw Sam Ehlinger making the team as a quarterback? The Broncos opted to keep all three signal-callers, with Bo Nix leading the charge, Jarrett Stidham as the likely backup, and Ehlinger holding down that third-string spot. That means they’re prioritizing depth there, which, honestly, is smart for a grueling season. But the running back room? That’s where things got WILD. Tyler Badie snagged a spot, but it came at the cost of Jaleel McLaughlin. You gotta wonder what the plan is there. Expect to see Cody Schrader pushing for a practice squad spot, and veteran full back Adam Prentice is looking like a prime candidate for the practice squad, probably getting elevated to the 53-man roster in the coming weeks. At wide receiver, the only real surprise was Lil’Jordan Humphrey making the cut. Looks like he’s active on game days, so keep an eye out.
Tight Ends, Linemen, and the Defensive Puzzle
The tight end decisions were another head-scratcher. They waived fifth-round rookie Justin Joly, which is a straight-up shocker, but seventh-round rookie Dallen Bentley made the team, alongside blocking specialist Nate Adkins. Caleb Lohner got put on short-term IR, so that cleared up a spot. On the offensive line, Frank Crum hit the short-term IR too. The Broncos are rolling with Alex Palczewski, rookie Kage Casey, Alex Forsyth, and veteran Matt Peart as their reserves. Calvin Throckmorton is another name to watch for the practice squad. Defensively, the initial roster shows Zach Allen, Tyler Onyedim, and Jordan Jackson at LDE, with DJ Jones and Eyioma Uwazurike anchoring the nose. Malcolm Roach and Sai’vion Jones are at RDE, and Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson holding down the EDGE. Justin Strnad and Jordan Turner are in at LILB, with Alex starting at RILB. It’s a solid looking group, but that McLaughlin move still stings a bit.
This initial 53-man roster is what they’re rolling with for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. While minor changes could still happen in the next few days, this is the core. It’s a mix of expected veterans and some unexpected new faces ready to make their mark. The stakes are set, and it’s time to see if these moves pay off when the season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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