Broncos elevate two young cornerbacks from practice squad with Moss, Surtain out

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Broncos ultimately didn’t look outside for game-day reinforcements to their cornerback corps, turning to a pair of young cornerbacks who impressed during training camp.

Rookie Brent Austin and first-year cornerback Sean Fresch Jr. — who played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks earlier this year — will be elevated from the practice squad to the 53-player roster for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers to provide depth with Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss both ruled out for the Broncos’ AFC West duel against the Los Angeles Chargers with ankle and rib injuries, respectively.

Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron are expected to start in place of Moss and Surtain after filling in for both players during the second half of the Broncos’ 24-14 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.

Austin was a first-team All-ACC selection at Cal last year after transferring from South Florida following a prior stop playing for Curt Cignetti at James Madison. The Broncos signed him after the draft as an undrafted free agent.

Fresch, a Rice product, spent two seasons in the UFL — 2025 with the now-defunct San Antonio Brahmas and this year with the Battlehawks, by far the most well-supported team in that circuit — before landing with the Broncos in June just after his season in the UFL concluded.

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.

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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