Broncos Re-Sign 3 Players, Move 3 to Short-Term IR

On to Week 1.

Through a flurry of transactions, the Denver Broncos have finalized their 53-man roster, re-signing nose tackle Mike Purcell, cornerback Fabian Moreau, and offensive tackle Quinn Bailey, the team announced Thursday.

In corresponding moves, Denver placed CB K'Waun Williams (ankle), OT Alex Palczewski (hand), and safety P.J. Locke (leg) on short-term injured reserve, ruling them out for the first four games of the 2023 regular season.

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) was not sent to IR, as promised. Neither was rookie CB Riley Moss (core muscle surgery), who will be on the Week 1 squad.

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Thus completes a whirlwind week for Purcell, who agreed to restructure his contract and was activated from the Non-Football Injury list — only to be released at final cuts with the expectation he'd soon return. He did, and now figures to operate as the direct backup to primary NT DJ Jones.

“That’s huge for us," defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said last Thursday. "That defensive line has been our most consistent and deepest group and been the healthiest through camp. Adding Mike just adds more depth."

Moreau, a seventh-year pro on his fifth NFL club, was signed by the Broncos on Aug. 1, in the absence of the aforementioned Moss. Moreau, 29, will provide experienced depth behind starting CBs Patrick Surtain II and Damarri Mathis.

“He played quite a bit of snaps last year in New York," head coach Sean Payton said of Moreau on Aug. 2. "He’s smart, and he’s one of those players that you know exactly what you are getting. I think there is a physicality to how he plays. He’s excelled in the kicking game, and he is someone who is smart. We’ve looked at him for a while now, and we’ve had a lot of good feedback from places he has been."

Bailey, a 2019 undrafted free agent, has survived multiple Broncos coaching regimes and clawed his way onto the 53 following an impressive summer. The 6-foot-6, 323-pound blocker will serve as a swing tackle behind LT Garett Bolles and RT Mike McGlinchey.

“He had a good camp. He had a really good camp," Payton said Tuesday. "We are excited for him.”

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