Apex Scores Lite Apex Scores Lite flag
back Back
Broncos Add WR to Practice Squad Ahead of Week 8 vs. Chiefs

What it means for Denver's pass-catching corps.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Eli Pancol (83) points up the field Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Detroit Lions defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 25-16. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Denver Broncos made a pair of roster moves in the lead-up to their Week 8 home showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The team announced Tuesday that it has signed wide receiver Eli Pancol to the practice squad. In a corresponding transaction, Denver released defensive back Ugo Amadi — who joined the club on Oct. 9 — from the taxi squad.

Undrafted in 2025 and yet to appear in an NFL game, Pancol spent his rookie campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, with whom he signed a reserve/future contract in January. The Colts waived him at final cuts and eventually released him again last week following a second stint on the practice squad.

Due to injuries, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound wideout was a five-year collegiate contributor at Duke, catching 130 passes for 1,710 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2019-2024. He added seven rushes for 40 yards and two scores on the ground.

In 2024, he earned third-team All-ACC honors while taking home the Brian Piccolo Award, given to the “most courageous” football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Pancol ran a 4.40 forty-yard dash and recorded a 36-inch vertical jump at his Pro Day prior to turning pro.

"Any team that gets Eli Pancol is getting a relentless hard worker," Pancol told The Draft Network in a 2025 interview. "I’ve proven that no matter how much adversity comes my way, I’m always going to overcome the obstacles. I’m coming to work every single day to get better. I love the game of football. I love feeding off the energy of the fans. I use that to energize my teammates. I’m also a physical receiver who loves to block. I’m ready to work. You can’t go wrong with somebody like me."

Aug 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Eli Pancol (83) catches the ball during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

What it Means for Broncos

Interestingly, Pancol becomes the fifth WR to land on Denver's practice squad, joining the likes of Dane Key, Cameron Ross, Kolbe Katsis, and Michael Bandy. None of these incumbents have been promoted to the active roster in recent weeks.

Speaking of the 53, the Broncos could be a little shorthanded at the position in Week 8 with Pat Bryant still on short-term injured reserve and Jaylen Waddle emerging from Sunday's win over the Cardinals with an apparent chest issue.

Head coach Sean Payton indicated Monday that Marvin Mims might see an uptick in usage going forward, as he's seemingly leapfrogged Troy Franklin on the depth chart.

“We’re trying to get him touches. He’s one of our explosive playmakers," Payton told reporters via conference call on Monday. "Quite honestly, we need to get him more touches on offense, and we’ll do that. A lot of it had to do with the way they were kicking off. We kind of, you noticed, went more to a single returner and certainly that first one (return) that puts us at midfield was a big one for us.”

Add us as a preferred source on Google

You may like

“I Begged Every Single Day”: Former Browns Coach Recalls Urging Jimmy Haslam to Draft Saquon Bark...

aol.com 1 hour ago

Raiders' RB Dylan Laube is a league-leading return specialist

aol.com 3 hours ago

QB Notebook: Settle Down With Your J.J. McCarthy Narratives; Time To Bench Daniel Jones?

foxsports.com 2 hours ago

“Best Thing That Ever Happened to My Career”: Rob Gronkowski Makes Bold Statement About Leaving P...

aol.com 1 hour ago

“How Humiliating”: Ex-49ers QB Alex Smith Makes Honest Admission About Being Benched for Colin Ka...

aol.com 2 hours ago

Week 8 NFL MVP Power Rankings: Smith-Njigba continues to impress

aol.com 3 hours ago

Midnite Madness Finds TCU Football at a Familiar Crossroads

si.com 1 hour ago

Packers-Lions does 24.67 million in Sunday’s late window

nbcsports.com 39 minutes ago