Sean Payton is on the lookout for a fullback, and he is looking far and wide.
The Denver Broncos coach shared his opinion on the Broncos’ fullback/tight end spots and why he is scouring the waiver wire for a blocking-first running back before Week 1.
The Broncos already have fullback Michael Burton on the roster, plus the team signed Adam Prentice on Monday. They also have five blocking-first tight ends in addition to off-season acquisition Evan Engram.
Still, Payton is hoping to keep the competition up for that spot.
Why Did The Broncos Sign Adam Prentice?
Burton is battling through a hamstring injury, and although they could deploy a tight end as an H-back style fullback, they decided to add Prentice, who spent his first four years with the New Orleans Saints.
But Payton also cited the loss of tight end Nate Adkins, who is likely to go on injured reserve with an ankle injury, as another factor in their sudden need to bring in a blocking back. Adkins had 14 catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
“We’ve always kind of had a [fullback],” Payton said. “I think, quietly, Nate was one of those players that I don’t know got a lot of attention, and yet there is a lot of respect around the league and in the locker room that he did a lot of things.
Though Adkins is likely to return at some point in 2025, him landing on IR will likely cost him at least the first eight games of the season.
“In the meantime, we’ve got to fill that void somehow,” Payton said.
Though it may appear the decision to sign Prentice was Payton going back to his Saints roots — as he did with reserve tight end Adam Trautman, who he signed before his first year in Denver (2023) — the veteran coach pushed back against that notion.
“I’m not as familiar with him as some of the other guys,” Payton said.
Prentice is a true blocking fullback, since he has just nine carries over his first four years — only two more than Burton had for the Broncos last year. But just because the Broncos brought in a body in Prentice, doesn’t mean Payton thinks they’re set at that position.
“We’ll continue to pay real close attention to the tight-end wire and the fullback [wire],” Payton said. “We had a few of those guys in to work out.”
What Is The Timeline For The Broncos To Sign a Fullback?
Prentice’s addition, and the next-man-up mindset will likely lead to Caleb Lohner or Caden Prieskorn getting reps this weekend in Denver’s preseason finale in New Orleans.
But Payton is more focused on getting another fullback in place for Denver’s first regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans — though didn’t rule out employing one of those players in that roll until Adkins returns.
“We think that’s important,” Payton said of getting a fullback in place by Sept. 7. “I think we’ll have that in place by the opener. I’m hopeful he’s here, and yet we’re paying attention each week and certainly the 53[-man roster] cut.”
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