The Denver Broncos saw Jaylen Waddle go down with an injury during Wednesday's practice, but not many people knew what it was. This is the time of the offseason when injuries don't have to be 'officially' reported, and with head coach Sean Payton not necessarily being a coach who likes to talk about injuries, many of us were left in the dark.
Waddle was out there at practice on Thursday. He was not practicing but was walking around and did seem to be in good spirits overall. Denver ran a lighter practice than in the previous days and were not in full pads.
And it's incredibly important this time of the year that the Broncos don't risk further injury. While these practices are still crucial, we're still a ways away from the regular season when things actually count. Waddle's status was provided by Payton on Thursday.
Denver Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle has a strain and should be back within the next 4-5 days
Payton noted that Waddle has a 'strain' and is likely going to be back at practice in 4-5 days.
Payton said Jaylen Waddle has “a strain” and expects him to be back in the next 4-5 days.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) August 6, 2026
This is definitely better news than what could have happened. Waddle does have a history of these smaller injuries throughout his career. While he has not missed a ton of games overall, just seven in five years, he still does go through these injuries from time to time.
He's played in an average of 15.6 games per season, so the Broncos could reasonably expect him to be on the field for 15 games or more in the 2026 NFL Season. At 5-10 and 185 pounds, his smaller frame does make him someone who is more vulnerable to these type of things.
But fortunately, the Broncos have been among the least-injured teams in the NFL for years now, and while that may not always be the case, Waddle is in good hands with this training and recovery staff, and there is simply no reason to rush him back into the mix.
If this was a playoff week and the Broncos were hosting a playoff game, there could be a chance that Waddle would play. We wouldn't know that for sure, but the urgency is not necessarily in a tough spot right now.
What is most important is that Waddle gets 100 percent healthy and back on the field for the Broncos to continue building that connection with Bo Nix.
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