Jaylen Waddle Leaves Broncos Practice Early, Payton Says Muscle Tightness Not a Concern
Waddle Walks Off Mid-Practice
Jaylen Waddle left Broncos training camp practice early Wednesday, and for a few tense minutes, Denver’s biggest offseason investment was nowhere to be found.
Waddle walked into the Broncos’ locker room during a padded practice session, carrying his helmet and not accompanied by trainers. He didn’t come back out for the rest of the workout. According to Yahoo Sports’ Broncos Wire, KOA radio’s Benjamin Allbright reported that Waddle “pulled up a bit” before exiting the field, while the Denver Post’s Troy Renck said the receiver appeared to slow down while running a route.
It capped a rough stretch for Denver’s injury report. Starting center Luke Wattenberg left practice Monday. Pass rusher Nik Bonitto limped off the field Tuesday. Then Waddle joined them Wednesday, and the timing raised eyebrows given what he means to this offense.
Payton Downplays the Scare
Sean Payton addressed the injury after practice wrapped, and the update sounded far less alarming than the sight of Waddle disappearing into the tunnel. According to ClutchPoints, Payton said Waddle experienced “muscle tightness” and that he expects the receiver to be fine.
CBS Sports reported the same, noting the Denver Post’s Luca Evans had first flagged Waddle’s absence, writing that the receiver went into the locker room during 1-on-1 drills and never returned to the field.
Payton has been here before this week. He said Wattenberg would be fine after Monday’s session, and Wattenberg still didn’t practice Wednesday. He said the same about Bonitto after Tuesday. That track record doesn’t mean Waddle’s situation is any different — soft-tissue tightness is common in padded practices, especially early in camp — but it’s a reminder that camp optimism doesn’t always match the next day’s participation report.
Why This Injury Carries Extra Weight
Denver sent a 2026 first-round pick, plus third- and fourth-rounders, to Miami in March to acquire Waddle, according to NFL.com. That’s the kind of price a team pays when it believes a player closes the gap between “good roster” and “Super Bowl roster.” Denver fell one game short last season, losing the AFC Championship at home to the Patriots with Bo Nix sidelined by a fractured ankle.
Waddle steps into a receiver room that already includes Courtland Sutton, who topped 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons, along with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. Through the opening days of camp, Waddle has drawn praise for holding up against top cornerback Pat Surtain II, and he’s made clear he sees this offense as a two-way street — telling reporters this week he’s “a big fan” of Mims’ speed and playmaking, a comment first reported by Mile High Report.
None of that changes the math on Wednesday. A three-year, $84.75 million extension and three first-day-of-camp injuries scattered across a week is enough to make any coaching staff cautious, even when the explanation is as mundane as tightness.
What Comes Next
The next real signal will be Thursday’s practice report — whether Waddle is back on the field for team drills or held out as a precaution. Denver gets its first scheduled day off Sunday, which could also factor into how the staff manages him if there’s any lingering stiffness.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
