The Broncos wanted Sam Ehlinger back. The feeling was mutual.

A day after Ehlinger was the last release within Denver’s 53-man roster plans, the quarterback is re-signing to the Broncos’ practice squad, a source told The Denver Post. It gives the Broncos their QB3 for 2025, as head coach Sean Payton made the point yesterday that every NFL team will carry three quarterbacks, in one form or another.

“The question’s simply, ‘What’s the third in the building?’ ” Payton said Tuesday. “Is he active, or practice squad?”

Ehlinger is on the practice squad, which is notable since a source told The Post that he had multiple offers to sign elsewhere to a team’s active roster. He’ll be eligible to be elevated to the active roster three times throughout the season, a selling point Payton recounted using to convince backup quarterback Chase Daniel to sign with New Orleans back in 2009.

“I said, ‘Chase, just leave the building,’ ” Payton said, recalling talking to Daniel while he was getting ready to sign elsewhere. “We’ll get you to the active roster for at least three games.”

Daniel left the building and signed with New Orleans. Ehlinger is placing a similar trust in Payton and Denver’s system, after the 2021 Indianapolis Colts sixth-round pick authored a standout preseason for the Broncos: 42 of 57 (74% completion percentage) for 415 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

After the Broncos’ 28-19 win over the Saints in their preseason finale on Saturday, Ehlinger expressed clear confidence in Denver’s quarterback room and roster at large.

“From top down, it’s one of the best organizations in the league,” Ehlinger said. “So it’s been great to be here, and really enjoyed it.”

As the Broncos finalize their 16-man practice squad Wednesday, they’ve also signed fullback Adam Prentice, veteran offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton and wide receiver Michael Bandy, sources told The Post. Prentice will likely be elevated to the active 53-man roster to start the season, similar to how incumbent fullback Michael Burton was used last year.

Here are the names that The Post has confirmed are signed or set to sign back with the Broncos’ practice squad, as of Wednesday morning:

QB Sam Ehlinger

OL Calvin Throckmorton

FB Adam Prentice

WR Michael Bandy

WR A.T. Perry

TE Caleb Lohner

ILB Jordan Turner

CB Jaden Robinson

NT Jordan Miller

CB Reese Taylor

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Originally Published: August 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM MDT