Team news: Denver Broncos | Page 6

Broncos are placing rookie RB Audric Estime on injured reserve due to an ankle injury; Estime now will miss a minimum of four weeks.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson

Just a few short weeks ago, this backfield looked like a mess, but now it's down to Williams and McLaughlin, which makes it much more palatable. Estime can safely be dropped anywhere he may have been stashed away.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said in his Monday press conference that receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both set to return to practice.

Hill has been dealing with a thumb injury while Waddle’s injury has not been disclosed, and the story added there have been no setbacks for either player.

With significant depth and talent at WR, Broncos are moving on from popular veteran Tim Patrick, per source.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin

The post went on to say the Broncos are currently exploring trade possibilities for Patrick, who is generating strong interest on market in advance of Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline. This move could be good news for players like Reynolds, Mims and the rookie Franklin. It wasn't that long ago that some who follow the team suggested Franklin wouldn't have a big role but that could change with the departure of Patrick, and if he can win the WR3 job. Sutton and Reynolds seem pretty locked into the top-two spots.

The Broncos are expected to move on from respected 8-year veteran RB Samaje Perine, sources say.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime

The team is engaged in a number of trade conversations around Perine and it could be a trade, rather than a release, the story went on to say. Williams is expected to be the team's RB1 but McLaughlin has flashed enough in the past that the Broncos seem pretty comfortable with him in a key RB role behind Williams. Factor in the team drafted Estime and the running back room was pretty crowded in Denver.

Expected but official: Broncos HC Sean Payton officially has named rookie first-round pick Bo Nix as Denver’s new No. 1 QB.

Nix is now slated to start opening day in Seattle against the Seahawks.

It's a good sign that he's been announced a couple of weeks out from the regular season kickoff, but his pass-catching group is less than stellar. He could have a rough go of it in Year 1, but we'll see if he progresses into someone who will be on our streaming radar.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is apparently dealing with a minor thumb injury that will keep him out of most, if not all, of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Related Players: Jaylen Waddle, River Cracraft, Malik Washington, Odell Beckham

Hill has been spotted wearing a brace on his injured hand, but head coach Mike McDaniel said he is not concerned about his availability for Week 1. Keep drafting him as a top-end fantasy asset.

Despite having a quiet training camp amidst reports of struggles, the team is invested in Franklin’s continued development, and they are in a position where they don’t need him to be a No. 1, 2, or 3 right away as a rookie. He’ll likely redshirt or play some special teams.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, Josh Reynolds, Devaughn Vele, Jalen Virgil

Franklin was more of a dynasty name this offseason but the hope was he'd quickly establish himself in a Broncos WR group that isn't necessarily loaded in terms of big names. The story said this is a position that could see five, six, or seven players on the 53-man roster. The writer says HC Sean Payton values size, and he has that with Sutton, Patrick, Reynolds, and Vele. He also values speed, which he gets from Mims, Virgil, Vele, and Franklin. Either way, it doesn't sound like Franklin will have a big fantasy impact at least early on this season.

I left Kimani Vidal off my 53-man roster projection after Week 1 of the preseason. My grade at that stage was “incomplete.” He had missed a week of practice, including the joint session with the Rams, before not playing in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. You have to earn your spot in the NFL, and that will especially be the case under Harbaugh. Vidal had a strong week of practice last week. He followed that up with a solid performance in his first game action. I have moved him ahead of Isaiah Spiller and onto the 53-man in my running projection.

Related players: Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson

If you remember, we reported on this a few weeks ago when this writer left Vidal off the team's 53-man roster. Vidal was at least a popular dynasty selection up to this point, given the Chargers state at RB. However, Vidal looks to be making a move up the depth chart with solid, recent practices and preseason game showing. Edwards and Dobbins appear to be leading the way at the position with Patterson also having a nice camp. Vidal looks like he still has a lot of work to do to at least be the team's RB3.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix turned in a fine preseason performance on Sunday night, but he hasn’t earned the Broncos’ starting job. Yet.

Denver head coach Sean Payton said after the game that he liked what he saw from Nix but isn’t making any announcements about who the starting quarterback is.

“He’s played well. I’m not announcing any starting quarterback tonight,” Payton said. “I’ll let you guys know when the time comes. I thought he played well.”

Related players: Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson

Payton said he also liked what Stidham and Wilson did in the preseason win over the Packers, but that could be coach-speak. The story opined that it's hard to believe Nix won't be the starter as he's been trending up as of late.

Jaret Patterson has impressed the coaching staff, and he appears to have grasped the RB3 role right now.

Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Kimani Vidal, Elijah Dotson, Isaiah Spiller

Much like they did in Baltimore, Edwards and Dobbins will look to form the 1-2 punch. While Patterson seems to be in the lead for the RB3 role, the author of this story seems to think rookie sixth rounder Vidal could be left off the roster. He said of the four backs competing behind Edwards and Dobbins, Patterson has gotten the most reps with the first team in practice. He was also the first running back in the game Saturday, ahead of both Spiller and Dotson. The story went on to say Vidal was in uniform for warmups but did not dress for the game. Vidal has also been dealing with an injury and missed four full days of practice earlier this month, according to the story, including the joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. The author ended by saying this competition is still wide open and things could change by the end of camp.