The Denver Broncos are set to travel to Louisiana on Friday ahead of their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday. With Ring of Fame wide receiver Rod Smith in attendance, the Broncos practiced indoors on Thursday to prepare for facing the Saints at the Caesars Superdome.
Here are five quick takeaways following the team’s final practice before Saturday’s showdown.
5 takeaways after Broncos practice
1. Broncos injury report: Denver’s list of players who did not practice Thursday included running back Jaleel McLaughlin, fullback Michael Burton (hamstring), defensive lineman Kristian Williams (undisclosed), defensive back Reese Taylor (hamstring), tight end Nate Adkins (ankle), linebacker Drew Sanders (foot) and cornerback Jahdae Barron (soft-tissue issue). After practice, coach Sean Payton said McLaughlin was absent following the birth of his first child, a baby girl, and Barron is “fine” and on track to play in New Orleans.
2. Nate Adkins won’t go on short-term IR: NFL teams are allowed to designate two players to return from injured reserve when they set the initial 53-man roster. Those players then have to sit out the first four games of the regular season. Payton said Adkins could return two or three weeks into the season, so he’ll remain on the active roster. With Adkins not going on short-term IR, other candidates could include Sanders and Burton.
3. Why the Broncos traded Devaughn Vele: Payton explained that the team was not actively shopping Vele, but three clubs expressed interest, and after a fourth-round pick was offered, it was too good to pass up. Still, Payton said it was an extremely difficult decision to make and one of the hardest trades he’s done. Payton compared it to the Darren Sproles trade in 2014, a deal that the coach later regretted. Payton indicated that two teams made serious offers. Denver ended up accepting the Saints’ offer.
Here’s Sean Payton on the Devaughn Vele trade. Bottom line — #Broncos weren’t shopping him. Payton said a few teams made serious offers, he knew New Orleans was wanting a “bigger receiver.”
Payton emphasized how tough it was to trade Vele. pic.twitter.com/fcZLvBcN51
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) August 21, 2025
4. Broncos starters will play vs. Saints: After sitting out last week, quarterback Bo Nix and most of the team’s starters will play 8-10 snaps in New Orleans. Payton will also return to calling plays after Davis Webb and Joe Lombardi handled those duties over the last two games. In the final tune-up game before the regular season, Denver will face quarterback Spencer Rattler, who is set to start for the Saints on Saturday.
5. Quinn Minerz is eager to play: Meinerz said he likes getting preseason reps because he doesn’t want his first live-game snap of the year to be against Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, a three-time Pro Bowler who the Broncos will face in Week 1. “Everyone has their own systems and beliefs [about] playing starters or not playing starters,” Meinerz said. “I like that we play.”
After facing the Saints on Aug. 23, Denver will have until Aug. 26 to set a 53-man roster. We will track all of the team’s upcoming roster moves on Broncos Wire.
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