The Denver Broncos remain short-handed in Week 13. This time, they will face the Washington Commanders on “Sunday Night Football” without Jonah Elliss. Moreover, the Broncos made a noteworthy decision in light of that and other roster developments.
The Broncos are 9-2 and can match their 2024 win total with a victory over the Commanders, who enter this contest with a laundry list of issues themselves.
Still, the Broncos will need others to step up without one of their more underrated contributors.
Broncos Rule OLB Jonah Elliss Out vs Commanders
GettyJonah Elliss #52 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a sack against the Atlanta Falcons.
Elliss, whom the Broncos selected with the 77th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has not played since Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders due to a hamstring injury. The Broncos listed him as questionable on the final injury report of Week 13.
However, the Broncos adjusted Elliss’ status.
“#Broncos are downgrading OLB Jonah Elliss to OUT with the hamstring injury, per source,” The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel reported in a post on X on November 29, noting that the 2024 third-round draft pick was “Making progress and close to a return but will not be ready to play tomorrow night.”
Perhaps most ominous, the Broncos did not wait until their list of game-day inactives was due, which is 90 minutes before kickoff.
Elliss is the 22-year-old son of former Broncos defensive lineman and, later, team chaplain Luther Elliss. He has already been limited to eight games this season due to injuries, logging 1.0 sacks after a 5.0-sack campaign as a rookie.
The Broncos still have starters Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto on the edges.
They also have second-year pro and former undrafted free agent Dondrea Tillman leading a group of reserves that is expected to turn to Quandarrius Robinson without Elliss.
A fourth-round pick (No. 134 overall) by the Broncos in the 2025 draft, Robinson has only been active for four games this season. However, he has been active for four of the Broncos’ last six outings.
They also made another decision that suggests the plan to lean on him to replace Eliss.
Broncos Draw Attention With Lack of Transaction Wire Activity
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines during a game against the Houston Texans.
Despite not having Elliss, the Broncos did not call up anyone from their practice squad, marking a noteworthy decision given the situations elsewhere on their roster. Specifically, The Denver Gazette’s Tomasson noted uncertainty around the Broncos’ plan at tight end.
“No #Broncos roster moves today,” Tomasson reported on X on November 29. “Will play Sunday at Washington with two active TEs. Though Sean Payton said it was a possibility, Marcedes Lewis, out of elevations, didn’t go to 53. FB Adam Prentice could be used more. We’ll see if Lil’Jordan Humphrey might get some TE-like snaps.”
Like pass rusher, the Broncos still have their top two tight ends, Adam Trautman and Evan Engram.
Engram has already missed time this season due to injuries and has an extensive history.
The Broncos have embodied the “next man up” mentality. They have navigated stretches of games without starters in Engram, Alex Singleton, Dre Greenlaw, and Pat Surtain II. They remain without Ben Powers and J.K. Dobbins.
Elliss is a role player. Elliss is also fourth among the Broncos’ OLBs in snap share this season, per Pro Football Reference.
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