Updated Jan. 13, 2026, 4:02 p.m. MT
Almost a month after Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, we now know that he did undergo surgery, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
Despite that surgery, the Broncos are “keeping open the possibility the safety could return by Super Bowl 60,” according to Klis. In a follow-up tweet, Klis wrote that there’s “some chance” Jones could return if Denver made it all the way to the Big Game.
Broncos coach Sean Payton pushed back on that notion after Tuesday’s practice.
“I don’t think so, I don’t think so,” Payton said when asked if there’s a chance Jones will return this season.
Denver still has room for up to three players to be designated to return from IR this season. Two candidates to return for a potential AFC Championship game are center Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) and running back J.K. Dobbins (foot). Wattenberg and Jones worked on a sidefield during Tuesday’s practice, according to the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel.
Coming off a first-round bye, the Broncos are in mostly good health as they prepare for Saturday’s divisional showdown with the Buffalo Bills, who are dealing with a host of injuries.
Buffalo wide receiver Gabe Davis suffered a torn ACL on Sunday and safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the divisional round. The Bills took another hit on Tuesday when coach Sean McDermott announced that fellow receiver Tyrell Shavers also tore his ACL on Sunday, ending his season. McDermott said Shavers played 22 of the team’s 34 second-half snaps after suffering the injury.
Buffalo is now left with just three healthy receivers on the active roster: Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks and Keon Coleman. Fortunately for the Bills, Curtis Samuel (elbow) returned to practice this week, opening his window to be activated from IR. Buffalo also has three WRs available on the practice squad.
Notably, the Bills released receiver Elijah Moore in October, and the Broncos signed him to their practice squad. Because they are set to face Denver this week, Buffalo is not allowed to sign Moore off the Broncos’ practice squad ahead of their playoff showdown.
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