Broncos move Rapp to 53-player roster, elevate two from practice squad

Broncos safety Taylor Rapp would have reached his season limit on elevations from the practice squad had the team moved him up for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs — a move that was a near-certainty as Talanoa Hufanga has yet to return to practice since his Oct. 11 ankle injury and was ruled out for a third-straight week.

But with running back RJ Harvey headed to injured reserve due to a knee injury, a spot on the 53-player roster opened Saturday, and the eight-year veteran safety was tapped by the Broncos to fill it.

The former Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills safety has played 115 defensive snaps — 69.3 percent — over the last two games in place of Hufanga, with special-teams ace Devon Key handling the rest of the workload.

Denver still opted to use its per-game maximum of two elevations, bumping running back Cody Schrader and offensive lineman Gavin Ortega up from the practice squad.

Schrader is needed because of injuries to Harvey and Tyler Badie, the latter of whom landed on injured reserve last week. The move of Ortega is likely a reward for his work on the practice field; the undrafted rookie is a player the Broncos would like to keep developing.

Left tackle Garett Bolles is questionable, but the Broncos would appear more likely to activate fourth-round rookie Kage Casey for depth if they need another offensive lineman on the game-day active roster.

BRONCOS PRACTICE-SQUAD ELEVATIONS:

2026:

• Week 1: LS Mitchell Fraboni, FB Adam Prentice
• Week 2: LS Mitchell Fraboni (2), FB Adam Prentice (2)
• Week 3: WR Kolbe Katsis, FB Adam Prentice (3)
• Week 4: None
• Week 5: CB Brent Austin, CB Sean Fresch Jr.
• Week 6: CB Sean Fresch Jr., (2), S Taylor Rapp
• Week 7: CB Sean Fresch Jr. (3), S Taylor Rapp (2)
• Week 8: OL Gavin Ortega, RB Cody Schrader

2025:

• Week 1: LB Levelle Bailey, FB Adam Prentice
• Week 2: FB Adam Prentice (2), LB Garret Wallow
• Week 3: FB Adam Prentice (3), LB Garret Wallow (2)
• Week 4: LB Garret Wallow (3)
• Week 5: None
• Week 6: OL Calvin Throckmorton
• Week 7: None
• Week 8: LB Jordan Turner
• Week 9: WR Michael Bandy, TE Marcedes Lewis
• Week 10: TE Marcedes Lewis (2), CB Reese Taylor
• Week 11: TE Marcedes Lewis (3), LB Jordan Turner (2)
• Week 13: None
• Week 14: LB Jordan Turner (3)
• Week 15: WR Michael Bandy (2), QB Sam Ehlinger
• Week 16: QB Sam Ehlinger (2), S Delarrin Turner-Yell
• Week 17: LB Levelle Bailey (2), WR Michael Bandy (3)
• Week 18: LB Levelle Bailey (3)
• Divisional Round: TE Caleb Lohner, WR Elijah Moore
• Conference Championship: WR Michael Bandy (1st in postseason, WR Elijah Moore (2nd in postseason)

2024:

• Week 1: FB Michael Burton, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
• Week 2: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (2)
• Week 3: RB Tyler Badie (2), DB Tanner McCalister
• Week 4: LB Levelle Bailey, DB Tanner McCalister (2)
• Week 5: LB Levelle Bailey (2)
• Week 6: OT Cam Fleming, IOL Calvin Throckmorton
• Week 7: ILB Kwon Alexander, IOL Calvin Throckmorton (2)
• Week 8: ILB Kwon Alexander (2), IOL Calvin Throckmorton (3)
• Week 9: ILB Kwon Alexander (3), FB Michael Burton (2)
• Week 10: FB Michael Burton (3), ILB Zach Cunningham (1)
• Week 11: ILB Zach Cunningham (2), S Keidron Smith (1)
• Week 12: ILB Zach Cunningham (3), OL Nick Gargiulo (1)
• Week 13: OL Nick Gargiulo (2)
• Week 15: OL Nick Gargiulo (3), CB Reese Taylor (1)
• Week 16: DL Matt Henningsen (1), RB Blake Watson (1)
• Week 17: DL Matt Henningsen (2), WR David Sills  (1)
• Week 18: DL Matt Henningsen (3)
• Wild-card Round: G/C Nick Gargiulo

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