The Denver Broncos wrapped up Monday’s practice, just one day after they trimmed their active roster from 90 players to 53. Denver also filled out their practice squad prior to today’s practice.
Denver Broncos wrap up first practice after initial roster cuts
Two weeks from now, the Denver Broncos will be playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football to open up the regular season, but today’s practice saw them continue to focus on further installation and technique as they begin to gradually transition into Chiefs prep.
#BroncosCountry Practice Report – Aug. 31Riley Moss returns to practice; Marvin Mims not spotted as the #Broncos focus is still on themselves and technique, just two weeks out from Monday Night Football.
— Cody Roark (@codyroarknfl.bsky.social) 2026-08-31T22:46:13.991Z
“We know we’re playing a really good football team, a divisional opponent, Monday Night Football,” Payton said. “It’s not like [Chiefs Head Coach] Andy [Reid] and I have to go in and give our teams a pep talk. So you really focus on the process leading up to the game and how you handle the unique week that’s ahead with the weekend, and then the bonus practice day Monday and then the lead in. With a Monday night game, I spend more time thinking about the schedule to make sure that we’re ramping up to play our best and it doesn’t get stale because we’re not playing on Sunday, if that makes any sense. But our players will know the significance of the first game, and I think it’s the process and the details.”
Practices have been competitive all throughout training camp, and Monday’s was no different — the only difference is that there are no longer 90 players on the roster.
The last 24 hours have been a grind for Payton and the front office as they scaled the roster back from 90 players to formulate the best 53-man roster possible. Compared to last season’s 53, there are only a few changes, and that’s due to players like Jaylen Waddle, Tycen Anderson, and a handful of rookies who make up the only new faces on it.
While the Broncos didn’t claim anybody from 31 other teams during the first waiver wire period, they saw two players they waived claimed — the Miami Dolphins nabbed fifth-round rookie tight end Justin Joly and nickel cornerback Reese Taylor.
With Joly not developing at the pace the Broncos had hoped for before roster cuts, Payton answered whether or not evaluating younger tight ends in today’s college game is more difficult than it used to be because so many college programs shy away from using traditional in-line guys, in what appears to be more of a spread-it-out approach.
“I think it depends on the college program,” Payton said. “Good question. In some programs you get to see a lot of what they’re going to do here, and then sometimes in other programs you’re projecting what they’re going to do here. So I think it really depends on the college team.”
Joly was a raw prospect coming out of college that the Broncos liked, but the only challenge was that he hadn’t progressed quickly enough in the game action he saw in the first two preseason games to justify a spot on the 53. The rookie tight end worked his tail off in practice and battled through the highs and lows of fighting for a roster spot, but considering where Denver’s roster was currently, they were hoping he’d pass through waivers.
Jonathon Cooper pleads not guilty in Douglas County court
After landing on the commissioner’s exempt list on Sunday, Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper appeared in Douglas County court this afternoon for his arraignment hearing, stemming from the two offseason arrests that resulted in domestic violence charges.
He pled not guilty at his hearing, and a trial date has been set for Nov. 10, 12, and 13, which takes place during the Broncos’ bye week. Cooper will likely remain on the exempt list until after the trial is complete, and depending on what is ruled in the court of law, further punishment could be handed down by the league office.
“We wait on the league,” Payton said. “In the meantime, the difference now is he’s in the facility, he’s lifting, he’s in the meetings. He can’t practice, and then we just wait for this process to play out.”
Cooper is allowed in the building and can lift and participate in team meetings, but he cannot take the field and practice or play in any of the games.
The expectation is that the league office will make a decision after Cooper’s trial concludes.
Broncos news and notes
Cornerback Riley Moss was back at practice on Monday after not participating all of last week after he suffered a rib injury in Week 2 of the preseason against the Green Bay Packers. He participated in individual drills and in every team period.
Wide receiver Marvin Mims was the only player that we did not spot out on the practice field today after he suffered a bruised foot on Friday night in the Broncos’ win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo (PUP), tight end Caleb Lohner (IR), and outside linebacker Que Robinson were the only three players on the Broncos’ side field during practice today.
Tuesday’s practice will be a fully padded one as the Broncos continue to compete against one another as they begin to transition towards Chiefs’ game prep.
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