It took all of three quarters for serious injury concerns to surface around two of the Broncos’ most important veteran free-agent additions.
After catching a pass for a third-down conversion late in the third quarter of Denver’s 20-12 win over the Titans on Sunday, tight end Evan Engram came up limping back to the sideline. He walked gingerly to a medical tent on the sideline and quickly emerged, seeming to test that lower right leg on the sidelines.
Engram was ruled questionable in the fourth quarter with a calf injury, though, and didn’t return.
It was a cruel development in an ugly Week 1 win, Denver’s passing offense already sputtering before Engram’s exit. Cruel, too, that it happened with Engram doing the thing — operating as a safety valve for quarterback Bo Nix to move the chains — that prompted Denver to sign him in the first place. Engram finished his abbreviated Broncos debut with three catches for 21 yards on four targets.
Denver will likely play it conservatively with the 31-year-old if the calf injury is serious, as the tight end comes with an injury history. He played just nine games in 2024 after tearing his labrum. The Broncos are already down another key veteran newcomer in linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who didn’t play Sunday amid a continued battle with a quad injury.
Badie wins RB3 job as McLaughlin sits: On Sunday morning, backfield stalwart Jaleel McLaughlin posted a tiny message to his Instagram story, hidden in the bottom right of a photo of Denver’s practice field:
“Better days coming.”
A few hours later, the reason became clear, as McLaughlin was rendered inactive in favor of third-string back Tyler Badie. It marked a full-scale overhaul of a disappointing Denver backfield from last season, as none of the Broncos’ top three backs by total carries in 2024 — Javonte Williams, McLaughlin and Audric Estime — took a handoff at Empower Field to start the 2025 season.
Badie earned head coach Sean Payton’s favor with a terrific camp. The fourth-year back cracked an initial 53-man roster for the first time in his career on the back of demonstrated pass-protection and receiving skills.
“He’s good in the protections,” Payton said in August. “When the fronts move around, he’s a good receiver.”
Badie, though, struggled Sunday, catching just two of six first-half targets. His usage was cut substantially in the second half, and McLaughlin will likely continue competing for Denver’s RB3 spot this coming week.
Rookies inactive: Denver also didn’t dress third-round DL Sai’vion Jones or fourth-round OLB Que Robinson, even after DT Malcolm Roach (calf) was placed on injured reserve this weekend. It’s a nod to Denver’s depth across the front, as there are two full sets of rotations ahead of both rookies.
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