Broncos WR Marvin Mims Jr. Avoids Serious Injury After Training Camp Scare
The Denver Broncos are chasing something bigger this year, and the goal starts with staying healthy. Denver enters the 2026 season with sky-high expectations after a run to the AFC Championship Game last season, and Thursday’s training camp practice delivered a brief reminder of how fragile that push can be when receiver Marvin Mims Jr. went down in pain.
Denver is coming off a 14-3 regular season and a trip to within one game of the Super Bowl before falling 10-7 to the New England Patriots in a snowy AFC Championship at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos return almost every starter on both sides of the ball, which is a big reason there’s plenty of optimism heading into camp, according to ClutchPoints.
Mims Goes Down, Then Gets Back Up
Near the end of Thursday’s practice, cornerback Riley Moss landed on Mims’ arm during a collision. Mims reacted immediately, tossing his helmet in frustration as trainers rushed over to examine him on the sideline. For a few tense minutes, it looked like it could be serious.
It wasn’t. Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports reported on X that Mims will be fine.
Per source, Marvin Mims Jr. will be fine after Riley Moss fell on his arm near the end of practice.
Mims was in visible pain and the trainers looked at him. But he will be okay.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 6, 2026
By the time practice wrapped, Mims was reportedly rotating his left arm on the sideline before rejoining the team for closing sprints — a good sign that the injury didn’t require further evaluation. It’s the kind of scare that looks worse in the moment than it turns out to be, and for a Broncos team that’s already had its share of camp injury news this summer, this one appears to be a false alarm.
A Crowded Receiver Room Just Got More Crowded
The timing matters. Denver’s lone major addition this offseason came at wide receiver, where the team completed a blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle, sending three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the explosive playmaker and a fourth-round selection. Waddle immediately becomes one of the most talented pass catchers on Denver’s roster, and he’s already turning heads in camp — Troy Franklin reportedly lit up when asked about his new teammate, per ClutchPoints.
Waddle himself has been paying attention to Mims, too. He’s publicly praised Mims’ work in camp, calling him “a big fan” and pointing to his explosiveness and speed after watching him make a leaping grab in one-on-one drills.
That mutual respect doesn’t erase the roster math, though. Waddle’s arrival almost certainly cuts into Mims’ snaps and deep targets after Mims served as Denver’s primary big-play threat last season. Expect Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant and Franklin to soak up more outside reps as the Broncos figure out how to divide the ball among a suddenly deep receiver group.
Denver’s Receiver Depth Chart Heading Into Camp
| Receiver | 2025 Role | 2026 Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins No. 1 WR | New addition, top perimeter threat |
| Courtland Sutton | Broncos No. 1 WR | Veteran anchor of the room |
| Troy Franklin | No. 2 WR / rotational | Expanded route tree, more snaps |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | Deep-threat / returner | Reduced target share, still a change-of-pace weapon |
| Pat Bryant | Rotational | Battling for reps on the outside |
Why Mims Still Matters
Even with a smaller role on paper, Mims isn’t someone the Broncos can afford to overlook. He’s dealt with injuries in each of the past two seasons himself — a groin issue during last year’s camp and a concussion that sidelined him during the regular season — so his ability to stay available carries its own value. Waddle, for his part, has battled a string of injuries throughout his career in Miami. If that trend continues in Denver, Mims becomes the next man up rather than a depth piece.
For now, the Broncos avoided the worst-case outcome. Mims is expected to be fine, and Denver’s focus shifts back to figuring out how to fit its newly loaded receiver room together before the preseason opener.
