Denver Broncos Activate Former Third-Round WR to Active Roster; Place Fellow Wideout on IR – Report – Week 8

Denver Broncos: Tre’Quan Smith Taking Brandon Johnson’s Roster Spot

Smith started the season with the New Orleans Saints but got waived while sitting on the IR. He immediately found a landing spot on the Denver practice squad. Meanwhile, Johnson is in his second year with the Broncos. He flashed some playmaking ability earlier in the season, including a two-touchdown game against the Washington Commanders in Week 2.

Wide Receiver Tre’Quan Smith: NFL Profile

Tre’Quan Smith joined the New Orleans Saints as a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The UCF product hauled in 28 passes for 427 yards and five scores as a rookie, earning early trust from future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. Smith followed his rookie campaign with 18 catches for 234 yards and five scores in 2019. The following season was a banner year for Smith, catching five touchdown passes, including two in Brees’ final start, a 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers in the playoffs. The 27-year-old wideout remained in a complimentary role for the next two seasons, tallying 655 yards and four scores from 2021 to 2022.

Smith landed on the IR in early September, and the Saints released him after Week 3. The sixth-year NFL vet quickly landed on the Denver Broncos and will get his first taste of action on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The six-foot-one wide receiver played for current Broncos head coach Sean Payton from 2018-2021.

Wide Receiver Brandon Johnson: NFL Profile

Brandon Johnson, an undrafted pick-up from the 2022 NFL draft, will head to the IR before his team’s tilt with the Chiefs. Johnson was up-and-down from the practice squad as a rookie in 2022 but finished the year with six catches for 42 yards and a score. However, he has seen an increase in snaps in 2023. Johnson has caught eight passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. The 25-year-old will now be out for at least the next four weeks.