Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos have been forced to make some noteworthy adjustments to their roster this season, none more significant than replacing Bo Nix on the 53-player group with Ben DiNucci, who will back up the elevated Jarrett Stidham.
However, the Broncos had to make room for DiNucci ahead of facing the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
That move cost the Broncos a player they were quite familiar with.
Broncos Cut Journeyman
GettyGarrett Nelson #56 of the Miami Dolphins reacts against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Per wire, #Broncos released OLB Garrett Nelson from practice squad. Made room for QB Ben DiNucci,” 9News’ Mike Klis reported on X on January 19, corroborating an earlier report from the team’s official website.
Nelson, 25, is a third-year former undrafted free agent out of Nebraska.
He entered the league with the Cincinnati Bengals. Nelson has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints.
This is the latest transaction in what has been a tumultuous journey during his second stint with the Broncos. He also spent part of the 2025 offseason and into training camp with Denver before returning in October.
The Broncos cut Nelson two weeks after his return, and then re-signed him on November 12.
Nelson has never played in an NFL regular-season game. He could return to the practice squad if the Broncos promote DiNucci to their 53-player roster, which would require another roster cut.
With Stidham starting, Sam Ehlinger moves into the Broncos’ QB2 role. DiNucci can dress as the emergency third QB and not count against the game-day roster count. But it could take another injury for the Broncos to promote him and create the space needed to re-sign Nelson.
That is especially true since the Broncos hope to get running back J.K Dobbins back.
The Broncos are also healthy at linebacker, a position at which they endured a rash of injuries during the regular season, further complicating Nelson’s path back to the roster.
Garrett Nelson’s Pre-Draft Profile Proving Telling
GettyGarrett Nelson #56 of the Miami Dolphins sacks Logan Woodside #11 of the Atlanta Falcons.
Nelson is facing an uphill battle in the numbers game if he eyes a return to the Broncos during their postseason run. His profile remains intriguing if imperfect.
“Nelson is a burly, try-hard edge defender with good power in his hands and an aggressive demeanor on the field,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote before the 2023 draft. “A lack of twitch and short-area quickness limit his effectiveness. Nelson is certainly tough enough to play on the edge, he lacks the ideal athletic profile for the position in the NFL. He might be best suited to play inside linebacker, where he can accentuate his strengths.”
The Broncos have some experience with a similar player in Drew Sanders. A third-round pick by the Broncos in 2023, Sanders is a better athlete than Nelson. However, Sanders has dealt with multiple injuries so far in his career.
As a UDFA, Nelson’s journey is already rife with twists and turns.
Nelson will need his preseason tape, which includes 4 total tackles in three games with the Broncos before the 2025 campaign, to earn his next roster spot.
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