Broncos' Jaylen Waddle didn't practice Wednesday but avoided serious injury, sources say

Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post on Oct 28, 2026

Published in Football

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DENVER — Jaylen Waddle avoided serious injury.

Whether he plays Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs remains in question.

Waddle’s status for the Week 8 AFC West showdown will likely become clearer in the coming days as Denver returns to the practice field Wednesday through Friday, though sources with knowledge of the situation said it remains unclear whether he’ll be able to play against the Chiefs.

Waddle was listed as a non-participant in the Broncos’ Wednesday practice to kick off their practice week ahead of Sunday’s game against Kansas City.

Payton called Waddle “banged up” on Wednesday but said of the receiver group in general, “We had good work today. We’ll continue to work the details of the plan, but I thought today’s practice was good.”

Regardless of whether Waddle plays Sunday, that is a fairly positive situation for the star wideout and the Broncos after he sustained what turned out to be an aggravation of an existing injury late in Denver’s 30-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos would love if he’s available for a rematch against the division-leading Chiefs.

Waddle was on the injury report leading into the game with a chest injury that limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday before he played fully on Friday.

He played most of Sunday’s game without much issue, but then fumbled an attempted reverse with about five minutes left. He recovered it by diving on the ball, but landed with it right in his upper left chest area.

Waddle was in obvious pain, was attended to on the field and then eventually went back to the locker room and did not return to the game.

Like Denver’s other receivers, Waddle is off to a slow statistical start to the season but leads the Broncos in catches (26), targets (45) and receiving yards (276).

His four catches and 48 yards against Arizona before the injury represented his best outing since Week 2, when he exploded for eight catches and 138 yards.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn’t provide an update on Waddle’s status after Sunday’s game or on his Monday conference call, but he said he regretted dialing up the reverse given the game situation.

“It was awful, alright, I’m sorry,” he said after the game.

CB Pat Surtain II practices fully, tracking toward playing

The Broncos have a handful of other pertinent injury questions this week, but All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II is tracking toward returning to the field after missing the past three games.

Surtain practiced in full Wednesday, the first time he’s done that since hurting his ankle against San Francisco on Oct. 4. He was a limited participant all of last week, entered the Arizona game questionable to play and ultimately did not.

The news was not as good for another pair of All-Pros.

DT Zach Allen (hamstring) and S Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) were both non-participants. Allen was present, but Hufanga was not. Allen said he would be “fine” Sunday after hurting his hamstring late in Denver’s win against the Cardinals.

Allen has regularly been limited on Wednesdays, which have amounted to partial rest days for him. It will be interesting to see if he can return to the field in some capacity later in the week.

LT Garett Bolles (hip) and WR Marvin Mims Jr. (ankle) were limited participants, while DT Malcolm Roach (neck) and ILB Karene Reid (elbow) practiced fully.

Kansas City’s lone DNP for Wednesday was corner L’Jarius Sneed (personal/knee), while WR Rashee Rice (hamstring/knee) and DT Omar Norman-Lott (knee) were limited. Rice has missed the past two games.

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