Sean Payton: Bo Nix To Be Limited In June, Full Training Camp Participant
As Bo Nix was recovering from the ankle injury which ended his second season, it appeared as though a return in time for OTAs would be coming. Instead, a follow-up surgery took place last week and resulted in an adjusted recovery timeline.
Nix’s ability to take part in voluntary work this spring is in doubt as he recovers from the second procedure. That surgery did not come as a surprise, however, and missed time in the summer is still not anticipated. Head coach Sean Payton spoke about Nix’s status on Saturday, confirming a clean bill of health will be in place before July.
“He’ll be well ahead of time for training camp,” Payton said (via ESPN’s Jeff Legwold). “We’re going to be the ones kind of holding him back if you will… You’ll see him probably in [the mandatory] minicamp — probably. He’ll be full speed throwing, everything, in July before we get back here. He’s doing good.”
Denver’s OTAs are scheduled for June 2-4 and 8-11. They will be followed by mandatory minicamp from June 16-18. Nix will continue rehabbing over the coming weeks, but Payton insisted a full workload once padded practices begin during training camp will be in store. A limited level of participation next month could also be an option. The Broncos will no doubt proceed with caution on that front, though.
Nix logged a full season as a rookie, taking part in Denver’s wild-card loss. He again played 17 games in 2025, helping lead the Broncos to the AFC title game. The ankle injury prevented him from taking part in that contest, however, and a strong showing upon returning to action will be key for a team facing high expectations next year.
Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger remain in place as the Broncos’ depth quarterback options. They are in line to handle an increase in reps for the time being, but a lengthy practice absence in Nix’s case should not be expected.
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/26
A slew of rookies signed their first NFL contracts on Thursday. Here’s a look…
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Reggie Virgil (fifth round, Texas Tech)
- LB Karson Sharar (sixth round, Iowa)
- T Jayden Williams (seventh round, Ole Miss)
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Zachariah Branch (third round, Georgia)
- LB Kendal Daniels (fourth round, Oklahoma)
- LB Harold Perkins Jr. (sixth round, LSU)
- T Ethan Onianwa (seventh round, Ohio State)
Buffalo Bills
- OLB TJ Parker (second round, Clemson)
- S Jalon Kilgore (fifth round, South Carolina)
- DT Zane Durant (fifth round, Penn State)
- CB Toriano Pride Jr. (seventh round, Missouri)
- P Tommy Doman Jr. (seventh round, Florida)
- G Ar’maj Reed-Adams (seventh round, Texas A&M)
Denver Broncos
- TE Justin Joly (fifth round, NC State)
- S Miles Scott (seventh round, Illinois)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB CJ Allen (second round, Georgia)
- S A.J. Haulcy (third round, LSU)
- EDGE George Gumbs Jr. (fifth round, Florida)
- EDGE Caden Curry (sixth round, Ohio State)
- RB Seth McGowan (seventh round, Kentucky)
- WR Deion Burks (seventh round, Oklahoma)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Albert Regis (third round, Texas A&M)
- OL Emmanuel Pregnon (third round, Miami)
- S Jalen Huskey (third round, Maryland)
- DE Wesley Williams (fourth round, Duke)
- TE Tanner Koziol (fifth round, Houston)
- WR Josh Cameron (sixth round, Baylor)
- WR CJ Williams (sixth round, Stanford)
- DE Zach Durfee (seventh round, Washington)
- LB Parker Hughes (seventh round, Middle Tennessee State)
New York Giants
- WR Malachi Fields (third round, Notre Dame)
- DT Bobby Jamison-Travis (sixth round, Auburn)
- T J.C. Davis (sixth round, Illinois)
- LB Jack Kelly (sixth round, BYU)
New York Jets
- QB Cade Klubnik (fourth round, Clemson)
- S VJ Payne (seventh round, Kansas State)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Ted Hurst (third round, Georgia State)
- CB Keionte Scott (fourth round, Miami)
- DT DeMonte Capehart (fifth round, Clemson)
- G Billy Schrauth (fifth round, Notre Dame)
- TE Bauer Sharp (sixth round, LSU)
With the Jaguars’ three-day rookie minicamp scheduled to start Friday, they now have nine of their 10 picks under contract. The lone exception is their top choice, second-round tight end Nate Boerkircher.
The Buccaneers are in a similar situation to the Jaguars. Their second-rounder, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, is also unsigned. Meanwhile, Hurst has not officially put pen to paper, but that will change when he arrives for rookie camp on Friday. He has already agreed to terms, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/26
Only one NFL team finalized a 2026 draft pick signing on Wednesday:
Denver Broncos
- TE Dallen Bentley (seventh round, Utah)
Bentley was the second-to-last pick in the draft, leaving him one spot away from the Mr. Irrelevant title that went to new teammate Red Murdock instead. His four-year rookie contract is worth just over $4.5MM, per OverTheCap, though the only guaranteed portion is a roughly $123k signing bonus.
Nathan Peterman Books Broncos Tryout
Nathan Peterman is best known for some rough performances as a Bills starter, but the veteran quarterback has managed a long career as a reserve option. The experienced quarterback has secured another opportunity.
Although Peterman was out of the NFL last season, 9News’ Mike Klis notes he secured a tryout at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp this weekend. The Broncos return their top three QBs from 2025, having re-signed third-stringer Sam Ehlinger, but recent Bo Nix news points to Denver needing a third healthy option for its offseason program.
Nix underwent a follow-up ankle procedure recently and likely will not be full go until training camp. Limited OTAs participation appears on tap for Denver’s starter, putting Jarrett Stidham in position to take first-team reps in spring workouts. Peterman, 32, was last with the Falcons, who carried him on their practice squad throughout the 2024 season.
The 2017 fifth-round pick has been with five teams in his career. The Raiders, Bears and Saints also rostered him at points. Sean Payton was not in New Orleans during Peterman’s cameo with the team (during the 2024 offseason). The Broncos have not officially announced their UDFA class, but no QBs are believed to be part of that group. Thus, Peterman will have a chance to work at the team’s rookie camp soon.
Peterman has five career starts; just one has come since his Buffalo tenure ended in 2018. He spent three-plus seasons with the Raiders; that covered most of Jon Gruden‘s second HC stay with the team and the Rich Bisaccia interim stint. The Bears added Peterman in 2022 and used him at a rather key point on their timeline. Chicago sat Justin Fields for Week 18 of the 2022 season, and the Peterman start resulted in a loss that clinched Chicago the No. 1 overall pick — which the team dealt to Carolina in the Bryce Young swap. Peterman returned to the Bears in 2023 but caught on with the Falcons the following year.
The Broncos have carried two QBs on their active roster, for the most part, during Payton’s tenure. But Nix’s ankle issue and Ehlinger’s $1MM guarantee creates a natural assumption they will go with three active-roster passers in 2026. A fourth QB as a practice squad stash may be overkill, but that would appear Peterman’s ceiling if he is to stick with the team for offseason work. This also may merely be for the rookie camp, with the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson noting the team had been targeting a veteran QB to throw passes to rookies at that multiday gathering. It nonetheless represents an opportunity for a player who has crafted a longer-than-expected career than his career 4:13 TD-INT ratio would suggest.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/26
Today’s mid- to late-round rookie signings from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Denver Broncos
- LB Red Murdock (seventh round, Buffalo)
Kansas City Chiefs
- RB Emmett Johnson (fifth round, Nebraska)
The Broncos have secured the signature of Mr. Irrelevant who received a $122K signing bonus, per Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. Johnson joins a crowded backfield in Kansas City, where he’ll work for reps behind free agent addition — and Super Bowl LX MVP — Kenneth Walker, all the time competing against another free agent signing in Emari Demercado and last year’s draft pick, Brashard Smith.
Broncos Explored TE, LB Additions Earlier In Draft
Although glaring needs did not appear to exist on the Broncos’ depth chart entering the draft, the team carried a few positions that could use help. Tight end and inside linebacker were at or near the top of that list, but Denver waited until Day 3 of the draft to address those spots.
The Broncos chose tight ends Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley in Rounds 5 and 7, respectively, and made linebacker Red Murdock this year’s Mr. Irrelevant. But the team looked into these positions earlier in the draft.
Tight end was a consideration “somewhat early” for the Broncos, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Considering the pre-draft work the Broncos did at tight end, it is unsurprising the team looked into the position earlier. Denver held the No. 62 overall pick but traded down to No. 66. Two of the TEs the team used “30” visits on — Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers and Ohio State’s Max Klare — went off the board in Round 2, with the Rams taking Klare one spot before the Broncos’ second-round pick. The Texans also chose Michigan’s Marlin Klein at No. 59.
Joly, however, also made a trip to Denver for a pre-draft meeting. The NC State product was a consistent producer in Raleigh and put up notable stats at UConn from 2022-23. Joly caught a career-high seven touchdown passes last season but was more productive for a yardage standpoint in 2024, when he tallied a career-best 661 to go with four TD grabs (his 15.4 yards per reception ranked fourth among Division I-FBS tight ends). The Broncos preferred Joly’s 2024 tape, according to Fowler, who notes the pass catcher played at a lighter weight that season.
Joly weighed 241 pounds at the Combine but was listed at 263 on the Wolfpack’s 2025 roster. With the team trading up 18 spots to land Joly at No. 152, it will be interesting to see where he checks in during his first Bronco campaign. The team decided to retain Evan Engram, despite an unremarkable 2025 season, and $5MM of his $10.99MM 2026 salary is already guaranteed. Engram, 31, could serve as a bridge while Joly develops in Sean Payton‘s offense. Denver also re-signed Adam Trautman in free agency.
The Broncos also re-signed linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, recommitting to each and releasing Dre Greenlaw. Singleton is 32, while Strnad will turn 30 before Week 1. The team not identifying a linebacker prospect earlier than No. 257 (Murdock) may inject some risk into the proceedings and make the Broncos a candidate for a pre-Week 1 signing. The team does still roster Drew Sanders, who has battled injuries as a pro, and is planning to try edge rusher Jonah Elliss at ILB this offseason.
Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt said (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) the team wanted to add a linebacker in the draft but did not see it as a critical area of need. The draft also saw some ILB options go off the board shortly before No. 62. The Vikings, Colts and Titans respectively chose Jake Golday (No. 51), C.J. Allen (No. 53) and Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 60). The Broncos opted to trade down, and they made Texas A&M interior D-lineman Tyler Onyedim their first draftee.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/26
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: S Devon Key
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: G Bill Murray
- Waived: DE Viliami Fehoko Jr., LB Joseph Vaughn
- Waived-injured: OT Jack Wilson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Jamin Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: CB Tre Tomlinson
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: EDGE Ali Gaye, LB Nate Lynn, NT Isaiah Raikes, LB Cam Riley, G Clay Webb, RB Blake Watson
- Placed on Exempt/International Player list: DE David Ebuka Agoha
It wasn’t long ago that Jamin Davis was a first-round pick by the Commanders and appeared to be a foundational part of the team’s defense. The Kentucky product compiled 269 tackles and seven sacks through his first three NFL seasons, but the team wouldn’t commit to a fifth year, declining his option in 2024. He didn’t make it through that subsequent fourth year in Washington, getting cut in late October. Since then, the defender has bounced around the NFL a bit.
He spent last offseason with the Jets but didn’t make it to the regular season with the squad. He caught on with the Raiders and spent most of the year on the team’s practice squad. He made two appearances (one start) for Las Vegas, tallying three tackles in 16 defensive snaps. Now, the 27-year-old will look to revive his career elsewhere.
David Ebuka Agoha joined the Titans practice squad midway through the 2025 season, and he was retained via a reserve/futures contract after the season. With the team declaring him as an international player, he’ll no longer count on the team’s 90-man offseason roster.
Chiefs, Seahawks, Vikings Showed Interest In RB Jonah Coleman
The Broncos ended up making Jonah Coleman this year’s fourth running back drafted. Not viewed as an RB class overflowing with talent, this year’s crop featured two first-rounders (both out of Notre Dame) and just one RB chosen on Day 2 (Indiana’s Kaelon Black, who went to the 49ers).
Denver chose the Washington product with the first of two fourth-round picks (No. 108), doing so after spending extensive time with him during the pre-draft process. The Broncos used a “30” visit on Coleman and, according to his college running backs coach (ex-NFL RB Scottie Graham), and frequently contacted the Huskies to discuss the back.
They were not the only team to show a decent amount of interest in the standout Big Ten rusher. Graham said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the Chiefs, Seahawks and Vikings showed a good amount of interest in Coleman before the draft. No trade-up ended up being necessary for Coleman, however, and the Broncos have acquired some near-future insurance on J.K. Dobbins and likely a longer-term RJ Harvey running mate.
“They called a number of times and asked a lot of questions,’’ Graham said of the Broncos, via Tomasson. “They’d sometimes call a couple of times in the same day and they wanted to know intimate things about his family. You’re not going to ask some of the questions they did unless you want him. They wanted me to tell them something that nobody knows about him. Then they’d call back again. I said, ‘Jonah, you’re probably going to Denver.‘”
Teams obviously do considerable research on numerous prospects, but Graham also worked with current Broncos defensive line coach Jamar Cain at Arizona State. Cain has known Coleman since he was 16, per Tomasson, serving as the Sun Devils’ recruiter in the area where the RB grew up (Stockton, Calif.).
Each of the rumored Coleman suitors left the draft with RB picks. The Seahawks addressed their need by taking Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall, doing so after a first-round trade-down move fell through. The Chiefs traded up for Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson in Round 5; the Vikings chose Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne in Round 6.
The Broncos included Dobbins in their re-signing spree, giving him a two-year deal worth $16MM. Dobbins’ $8MM guarantee nearly quadrupled his 2025 salary, representing an interesting decision considering the productive RB’s injury history. Dobbins added to that medical sheet with a Lisfranc issue last season, costing him seven regular-season games and both Broncos playoff contests. The Broncos still placed a high priority on retaining Dobbins, though it appeared he was the team’s second choice (possibly third). Denver made what was believed to be a strong offer to Travis Etienne and was connected to Breece Hall before the Jets franchise-tagged him. Rather than a pricier back, the Broncos ended up with Dobbins and his likely successor.
Coleman transferred from Arizona to Washington in 2024 but was a regular in both teams’ backfields. After an 871-yard sophomore year with the Wildcats, Coleman totaled 1,053 rushing yards in 2024 and 758 in ’25. Last season brought a Big Ten-leading 17 touchdowns for the 5-foot-8, 220-pound back. He added 354 receiving yards in 2025.
Harvey, a 2025 second-rounder, should remain in the Alvin Kamara-like role in Sean Payton‘s offense. Dobbins will presumably enter 2026 in the Mark Ingram spot, as he was a top-five NFL rusher when he suffered his foot injury last year. While Coleman may well be Dobbins’ successor — no guarantees are on the veteran’s deal for 2027 — The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider notes a short-yardage role might be available to the rookie this season.
Although the Broncos re-signed both Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin, they are unlikely to retain both on their 53-man roster. The team also rosters fullback Nate Adkins, leaving one (or perhaps zero) spots for Badie or McLaughlin now that Coleman is on the team. The team needed McLaughlin — a fourth-year UDFA — more after Dobbins’ injury, but his path to playing time has since narrowed.
QB Bo Nix Undergoes Follow-Up Ankle Procedure
The party line coming out of Denver pointed to Bo Nix being ready for OTAs; the most recent update from this situation tabbed the QB as being ahead of schedule on his ankle rehab. But it now looks quite possible the Broncos will be careful with their starting quarterback this offseason.
As Nix’s rehab from an ankle fracture continues, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo note the third-year passer underwent a follow-up procedure described as a cleanup. While the NFL.com duo indicates this is not an unexpected development, the prospect of the Broncos being careful with Nix this offseason also emerged.
This comes after Nix’s scheduled recheck last week. The Broncos are expected to be cautious with their signal-caller, but Rapoport and Garafolo note the QB is “firmly” expected to be ready for training camp. While Nix is going into his third season in the same system, the Broncos are changing play-callers — with Sean Payton giving the reins to QBs coach-turned-OC Davis Webb — this year.
Denver lost Nix at a rather inopportune moment, seeing the durable passer suffer his injury during the overtime period of a 33-30 divisional-round win over the Bills. Payton announced postgame it would be Jarrett Stidham making the start in the AFC championship game. Although the three-year Broncos backup started off well, an untimely fumble gave the Patriots vital early field position — in a game later mired in a blizzard — that helped them unravel a defense-oriented Broncos game plan.
The Broncos’ Nix-driven “what if?” regarding a Super Bowl LX berth represented the latest bad break for Payton in the playoffs, with the late-season QB injury coming years after the Minneapolis Miracle sequence and the infamous uncalled pass interference play in the Rams-Saints 2018 NFC championship game. Payton appears quite confident in his 2025 nucleus, with the Broncos having re-signed a host of players from that roster in free agency (to go with the Jaylen Waddle trade).
Stidham enters the second season of a two-year, $12MM contract, and the Broncos also included third-stringer Sam Ehlinger in their re-signing spree. That duo figures to see more work during OTAs and minicamp. Although it could be construed as a setback in that Nix was viewed as on track for OTAs before word of this second procedure surfaced, training camp is nearly three months away.