{"id":1943,"date":"2026-06-05T13:35:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1943"},"modified":"2026-06-05T13:35:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:35:04","slug":"a-new-playmaker-in-denver-but-no-bo-nix-yet-as-jaylen-waddle-settles-into-the-broncos-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1943","title":{"rendered":"A new playmaker in Denver, but no Bo Nix yet as Jaylen Waddle settles into the Broncos offense"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

ENGLEWOOD<\/strong> | The Denver Broncos are back on the football field for the first time since losing the AFC championship game to New England with Bo Nix watching from a suite with his surgically repaired right ankle in a cast.<\/p>\n

Nix is still sidelined following a second procedure on his right ankle but he was on the field Thursday, throwing some passes but mostly watching backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger incorporate offseason acquisition Jaylen Waddle into the offense.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had a good week,\u201d coach Sean Payton said of Waddle, the speedy receiver the Broncos acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this spring. \u201cHe\u2019s someone who picks things up real quick. He had a real good day yesterday and you can just feel his instincts and his quickness and his ability to not only run fast but to stop fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Waddle is expected to work with Nix by the time the Broncos hold their minicamp in two weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, you don\u2019t see (Nix) in pre-practice, but he\u2019s been throwing and I do think in our third week \u2026. you\u2019ll see more of a role,\u201d Payton said.<\/p>\n

The Broncos were the last team to actually take the field during their offseason training program, which for them has consisted of workouts indoors until Tuesday when they embarked on football drills.<\/p>\n

Before working on his chemistry with Nix, Waddle has been developing a rapport with his No. 1 wide receiver counterpart Courtland Sutton.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s been fun,\u201d Sutton said. \u201cBeing able to see him up close, he\u2019s a special dude. \u2026 He has some qualities that only he can do. \u2026 He has tremendous speed. His speed and acceleration paired together are top tier. His understanding of the offense, his understanding of football \u2026 his run after the catch is top tier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waddle said he envisions he and Sutton delivering a great 1-2 punch.<\/p>\n

\u201cCourtland\u2019s an elite playmaker,\u201d Waddle said. \u201cAnytime you have an elite playmaker on the other side, it just makes it easy, someone that the defense has to be looking for and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s eager to work with Nix on the field, it\u2019s apparent the two have already started developing chemistry.<\/p>\n

\u201cBo is definitely a competitor, he loves talking ball, he loves being around the guys,\u201d Waddle said. \u201cI think he\u2019s a great leader. I can just see the traits from him day to day and if he sees something he\u2019s going to tell me about it and then we\u2019re going to pick each other\u2019s brains, try to get on the same page as best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raise for Surtain<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Broncos gave star cornerback Pat Surtain II a $5 million raise this season through a contract adjustment. Surtain also can earn another $5 million if he\u2019s an All-Pro or Pro Bowl selection. He\u2019s a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s obviously someone that we feel like is elite and at the top of his position,\u201d Payton said. \u201cAnd part of that is the salary cap and how that fluctuates and moves, especially in the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Broncos are finally out from under the record $85 million dead cap hit they incurred by releasing Russell Wilson, allowing them to make moves as they did with Surtain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels good,\u201d Payton said. \u201cLook, it\u2019s important. It\u2019s hard to do that with dead money and when you do that with a record-setting amount, it\u2019s a credit to everyone, the young players, the coaches, the scouts, and so I don\u2019t know that anyone can feel or see it, but certainly it exists when it pertains to your budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Surtain has a dozen interceptions and 59 pass breakups in his five seasons as a pro.<\/p>\n

Surtain is entering the first season of a four-year, $96 million extension he signed in 2024, which at the time made him the league\u2019s highest-paid cornerback based on average annual salary. He has since been surpassed by Jaycee Horn, Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Ramsey.<\/p>\n

Tough opening stretch<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Broncos open the season with a tough six-game stretch beginning with a game at Kansas City followed by five weeks of games against 2025 playoff teams, but Payton said he doesn\u2019t believe the league was being punitive.<\/p>\n

Asked if he\u2019s upset someone in the league office, Payton, cracked, \u201cNo, that happened a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season due to his involvement in the New Orleans Saints\u2019 \u201cBountygate\u201d scandal.<\/p>\n

After a visit to Kansas City, the Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams before visiting the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers. After that, they host the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get to see where we\u2019re at early,\u201d Waddle said.<\/p>\n

AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nfl<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more Kennedy Center moves to erase Trump references after judge said they were illegally added<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more Bennet, Weiser spar in second Dem debate for governor, find common ground on many issues<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more Toon in Friday<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ENGLEWOOD | The Denver Broncos are back on the football field for the first time since losing the AFC championship game to New England with Bo Nix watching from a suite with his surgically repaired right ankle in a cast. 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