Two skill players could make their Broncos debuts Saturday on the biggest stage of Denver\u2019s season.<\/p>\n
The Broncos elevated wide receiver Elijah Moore and tight end Caleb Lohner for their AFC divisional-round matchup against the Bills, a unique couple of moves with Denver\u2019s full 53-man roster healthy and active heading into the playoffs. Neither Moore nor Lohner have dressed for a single regular-season game in 2025, and could throw an added wrinkle in head coach Sean Payton\u2019s gameplan.<\/p>\n
Moore is a familiar face to Buffalo fans, signing a one-year deal with the Bills in April before the team cut him in late November. The Broncos added him to their practice squad a week later, where the 25-year-old receiver has remained for the remainder of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the move could be as simple as a reward check for Moore choosing Denver. But the 5-foot-10 wideout has been a productive receiver for both the Jets and Browns across a five-year NFL career, catching 61 passes for 538 yards last year in Cleveland before managing just nine catches across nine games with Buffalo this season.<\/p>\n
Lohner, meanwhile, presents even more interesting potential if he\u2019s elevated against Buffalo Saturday. Payton told the rookie tight end upon drafting him in the seventh round in April that Denver was going to make him the \u201cnext Jimmy Graham,\u201d<\/a> as the 6-foot-7 Lohner played just one season of collegiate football with Utah amid a five-year collegiate basketball career.<\/p>\n Lohner\u2019s spent the year marinating on Denver\u2019s practice squad, not seeing action in any game this season despite the occasional need for TE depth. Still, there\u2019s potential for Payton to draw him up a goal-line look with his size and athleticism, as Buffalo has literally no possible film or way to scout the 25-year-old rookie.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean that a developmental player, by Week 8, can\u2019t all of a sudden be someone that (contributes) \u2013 but, there\u2019s a larger learning curve,\u201d Payton said of Lohner before the start of the season. \u201cAnd he\u2019s getting it, and he\u2019s getting better, and he\u2019s improving.\u201d<\/p>\n Denver traditionally only takes five receivers and three tight ends up on gamedays. If Moore was activated, it\u2019d likely mean a demotion for Lil\u2019Jordan Humphrey; if Payton tabbed Lohner, that could mean a blocker like Nate Adkins or Adam Prentice would be kept in sweats.<\/p>\n