Sean Payton storms off after ‘awful’ call that got Waddle hurt

Sean Payton used the end of Sunday’s postgame news conference to ask what he thought was the most important question.

The Denver Broncos coach was done talking about the good after a 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday when he raised the play that took the shine off the victory himself. It was a late reverse that left receiver Jaylen Waddle on the turf and then in the locker room.

“Why didn’t anybody ask me about the dumb reverse call?” Payton said laughing. “That would be one of the first calls.”

Then he answered his own question — with a smile

“It was awful,” he said. “All right, I’m sorry.”

Jaylen Waddle just reinjured his left shoulder on this play.
Seems more like a potential labral issue or subluxation than AC related, but could have been AC aggravation from the impact on the ground. pic.twitter.com/1dg43TPQ7a

— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) October 25, 2026

Moments later, Payton walked away from the podium and slammed a door on his way out. Seemingly no longer happy.

#BroncosCountry LIVE: HC Sean Payton meets the media after #DENvsAZ https://t.co/xwKj07H6PU

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 25, 2026

Denver led by 14 points with less than five minutes left. The Broncos had been running the ball well up the middle, but Payton called a trick play instead and pitched to Waddle as he came behind Bo Nix. Waddle bobbled the pitch and was hit hard by Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat. Denver recovered the fumble, but Waddle stayed down. Trainers helped him to the locker room with a chest injury, and he did not return.

Payton said he should have known better and pointed to a play from his time with the New Orleans Saints.

“If you look it up in 2008, in a similar situation, even a more radical reverse. Fumbled, Tampa Bay beat us,” Payton said. “I know better. And every once in a while, you fall in love with a play, and so that would have been a good question.”

Waddle was already banged up coming into the game. A chest injury limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday. He practiced fully Friday and was cleared to play. He also briefly left the Week 6 win over Seattle with a shoulder injury before returning.

The Broncos traded a first-round pick for Waddle in the offseason, but the move hasn’t paid off yet. He came into Sunday with 22 catches for 228 yards and one touchdown, and Denver’s passing game has struggled all season. He had 48 yards on four catches on Sunday.

The injuries kept coming. On Arizona’s next drive, defensive lineman Zach Allen went down with a hamstring injury. He said after the game that he should be fine.

The Broncos host the Chiefs in a massive AFC West battle next weekend, with or without Waddle.

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