Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton had a fascinating message to his players before the third and final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
He used the analogy of The Voice, where judges are facing away from contestants and have an opportunity throughout the audition to turn their chairs around. Even if it's at the very end of the song, it only takes one judge turning the chair around to get the contestant through to the next round.
"I don’t watch a lot of TV, but my wife likes watching that Voice where the singers sing. So today it was like, ‘Hey, make us spin the chair.’ Make us spin it.”
- Sean Payton, via Broncos PR
Against the Vikings on Friday night, undrafted rookie wide receiver Kolbe Katsis might have made the last couple of plays he needed to in order to get the Broncos' coaches to "spin their chairs", potentially complicating arguably the easiest roster decision they previously had to make.
Kolbe Katsis might have played his way onto the Denver Broncos' 53-man roster
Kolbe Katsis and his teammates were going crazy after his kick return 🔥
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The Broncos' formula at the wide receiver position has been a pretty straightforward one this whole offseason. Sean Payton typically keeps five guys, and the Broncos' top five are:
- Courtland Sutton
- Jaylen Waddle
- Pat Bryant
- Marvin Mims Jr.
- Troy Franklin
Aside from some dings and bruises, those five guys are all healthy going into the regular season, so all are assumed to be making the team (barring a surprise trade...again). Even Lil'Jordan Humphrey, who has been with the team basically since Sean Payton came aboard in 2023, is a candidate to be the 6th receiver on the 53-man roster if the Broncos would choose to keep that many.
But an undrafted rookie free agent making the team? That would require a lot of plays being made, specifically in the return game. The Broncos seriously lacked depth in the return game last year, and it burned them at times.
Not only did kickoff returners RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie struggle to provide a spark when teams would kick away from Marvin Mims Jr., but Michael Bandy muffed his first punt return attempt in relief of the injured Mims last year in a critical moment (in Houston).
Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi recently talked about the depth being better this year in the return game compared to last year, and part of that discussion is obviously Kolbe Katsis, who was phenomenal in the preseason.
Katsis had one huge return called back due to a penalty, another 40-yard return last week against the Packers, and a 49-yard kickoff return against the Vikings in the finale. He also added a 17-yard punt return against the Packers, and a much nicer 13-yard return against the Vikings than that number would lead on, and an 18-yarder to finish things off.
He finished the preseason officially averaging 31.2 yards per kickoff return (6 returns for 187 yards) and 3 punt returns for 48 yards (16 YPR average).
Sean Payton is one who really believes in the "hidden yardage" aspect of special teams, and with that in mind, Kolbe Katsis was someone who significantly helped the Broncos win the field position battle in three preseason games. When something happens one or two times, you might be able to justify letting a guy go and chalking it up as good preseason luck. When a guy gives you 10 high quality returns (one that was called back due to a penalty), you have to start thinking about making really tough roster decisions.
How can the Broncos justify trying to send this guy through waivers? Especially with Marvin Mims Jr. getting hurt (and being okay) in this game, the Broncos can't risk letting their 2nd-best option in the return game go.
The Broncos currently have a streak of UDFAs making the team 21 of the last 22 seasons. Katsis (and a couple of others) could potentially help the Broncos make it 22 of 23. The problem is, it's not going to be easy to do the kind of roster gymnastics required to keep him around. But the way he played in the preseason, he should be back returning kicks along with Marvin Mims Jr. against Kansas City.
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