Broncos promote ex-UFL standout from practice squad to 53-man roster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Broncos needed Sean Fresch Jr. on the field with fellow cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine sidelined for Sunday due to a hamstring injury. But Fresch was out of practice-squad elevations, having exhausted his season-long limit of three in October.

Thus, Fresch is now a member of the Broncos’ 53-player roster for the first time. The Broncos promoted the former United Football League cornerback on Saturday, allowing him to join fellow UFL alumnus Dondrea Tillman.
Tillman moved up from the practice squad to the primary roster in 2024, months after the Broncos signed him following a successful season with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. The path has been similar for Fresch, who was a standout player for the St. Louis BattleHawks last season before joining the Broncos after their offseason work — and the UFL season — concluded.

Fresch made an impression on special teams during the three games he played last month while Pat Surtain II recovered from a high-ankle sprain He notched three tackles on kickoffs, including two in his NFL regular-season debut against the Los Angeles Chargers.

BRONCOS ELEVATE TWO PLAYERS, INCLUDING TAYLOR RAPP

Safety Taylor Rapp was released Friday, but it was a procedural move and he signed to the practice squad Saturday. Then the Broncos guaranteed him an active-roster game check by using one of their two Week 9 elevations on the veteran safety, who has played extensively the last three weeks with Talanoa Hufanga sidelined.

Hufanga is questionable for Sunday after seeing limited work in practice this week, but the Broncos needed safety depth after Brandon Jones missed all of practice this week with a hamstring injury that sidelined him in the second half of last week’s game.

This will be Rapp’s third elevation from the practice squad, so if the Broncos are to utilize him again, they will need to move him back to the 53-player roster.

Denver will also elevate running back Cody Schrader for a second-straight game. The Broncos need the Mizzou product available with both Tyler Badie and RJ Harvey on injured reserve.

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
• Week 9: S Taylor Rapp (3), 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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