Troy Franklin Praises Jaylen Waddle’s Speed as Broncos WR Battles Injury Scare
Troy Franklin didn’t hold back when a reporter brought up Jaylen Waddle on Wednesday. The Denver Broncos wide receiver’s face lit up, and so did his answer.
“Oh, man. I mean, he’s fast as hell. He’s quick,” Franklin said of Waddle, according to Luca Evans of the Denver Post. “I think I’m just trying to do a good job of being a sponge and take whatever I can from him.”
Franklin posted the comment on X, and the full clip is visible at
#Broncos WR Troy Franklin lit up when talking about playing in packages next to Jaylen Waddle.
“Oh, man. I mean, he’s fast as hell. He’s quick. I think I’m just trying to do a good job of being a sponge, and take whatever I can from him.” pic.twitter.com/SJGrrNEPyx
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) August 5, 2026
The Waddle trade was one of the loudest moves of Denver’s offseason. The Broncos sent their 2026 first-, third- and fourth-round picks to Miami in March to land the former first-round pick, absorbing the remainder of his three-year, $84.75 million contract along the way. It’s the kind of aggressive, win-now swing teams make while a franchise quarterback like Bo Nix is still on his rookie deal.
Waddle Leaves Wednesday’s Practice Early
The same day Franklin was gushing about his new teammate, Waddle walked off the practice field and didn’t return. Head coach Sean Payton told reporters afterward that Waddle was dealing with muscle tightness and that the team expected him to be fine, though Denver said it would continue to evaluate him. With the Broncos still more than a week from their preseason opener, Payton has repeatedly said the team plans to be cautious about bringing injured players back onto the field.
Courtland Sutton was also held out for a second straight day as a scheduled veteran rest day, meaning Denver’s top two projected targets for Nix were both absent for most of Wednesday’s session. Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant picked up the bulk of the first-team reps in their place. Payton said he expects Sutton back at practice Thursday.
A Crowded Receiver Room
Waddle’s arrival reshuffled a Denver receiver group that already had real depth. Sutton led the Broncos in every meaningful receiving category last season — 74 catches, 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns — and remains Denver’s top target. Franklin was second on the team with 65 receptions, 709 yards and six scores, and Bryant emerged as a bigger part of the offense after the Week 12 bye.
That leaves Franklin, Bryant and Mims fighting for reps behind Sutton and Waddle rather than any one of them locking down a clear WR3 role heading into the season.
| Player | 2025 Receptions | 2025 Yards | 2025 TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | 74 | 1,017 | 7 |
| Troy Franklin | 65 | 709 | 6 |
| Jaylen Waddle (with Miami) | 64 | 910 | 6 |
For Waddle, a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs. He hasn’t cracked 1,000 receiving yards in either of the last two seasons in Miami, well off the pace he set in his first two years in the league, when he topped 1,300 yards in 2022. Denver is betting his ceiling is still there, and Franklin, for one, sounds like he’s already trying to learn from him.
What’s Next
The Broncos have roughly a week and a half left before their preseason opener. How quickly Waddle and Sutton get back to full practice reps will shape how the receiving pecking order settles before Week 1.
