Jaylen Waddle Is a Bronco, But 10 Players Are Missing From Practice and Nobody's Talking About It

Alright, Seattle fam, you know we gotta keep an eye on our rivals, even when they're not in our division. And let me tell you, the noise coming out of Denver right now is... *something*. On one hand, they just landed a certified game-changer in Jaylen Waddle, and snagged the two-time UFL Offensive Player of the Year! Massive moves, right? You’d think the Mile High City would be celebrating big time. But dig a little deeper, and it's looking like a full-blown mess down there before the real games even start, and it’s a story the national media isn’t screaming about. Ten players were no-shows at recent OTAs. TEN. That's a huge chunk of a roster, and it screams trouble for their season.

The New Toys in Denver's Locker Room

First, let's talk about the flash. Jaylen Waddle is absolutely bringing a new dimension to their offense. Courtland Sutton, another one of their receivers, called Waddle a "special dude," and you know that kind of talent can light up a scoreboard. Pair him with the two-time UFL Offensive Player of the Year, a dude who just dominated a different league, and you’ve got some serious new firepower. This isn't just a casual addition, they've signed spring football players for four consecutive years, so they clearly see value in that talent pool. They're trying to inject some life into that offense, no doubt about it. They also hope receiver Pat Bryant stays healthy, and RJ Harvey is looking to build on a promising rookie season. It seems like the goal is to load up the skill positions around Bo Nix.

Chaos Is Already Brewing for the Broncos

But here's where it gets real, and where Seattle fans can maybe breathe a *tiny* sigh of relief that this isn't our headache. While they're adding stars, the Broncos are already dealing with a serious wave of problems. For starters, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper could be staring down an NFL suspension. Yikes. And speaking of pass rushers, another one of theirs was just arrested *again* and is facing new charges. That's not just a distraction, that's a whole different level of bad news for team chemistry and depth. Then there are the injuries, and this is the big one: ten players were not practicing at OTAs. We’re talking about early season prep here, and a third of your starting lineup could be missing? That’s brutal. Quarterback Bo Nix, who's eyeing a big year after a broken ankle ended his playoff run last season, has only just advanced to walk-through reps at practice. They need him healthy and ready to go if they want to get anywhere. Defensive back Talanoa Hufanga also needs to build on his career year. Red Murdock is set to be honored as 'Mr. Irrelevant,' which is a cool story, but doesn't help the on-field problems. Look, you bring in Waddle and a UFL star, that's great for headlines. But if you’ve got a pass rusher in trouble with the law, another facing suspension, ten guys sidelined, and your hopeful franchise QB slowly recovering from a broken ankle, you're looking at an uphill battle from day one. This team is trying to line up contracts for Sean Payton and George Paton, which is apparently "huge," but the real huge problems are on the field and in the locker room right now. We'll be watching to see if they can get it together before the season opener, because right now, it looks like a whole lot of questions for the Mile High crew.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.