Broncos-Panthers inactives: Hufanga out for fourth-straight game

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Broncos will face the Panthers without both of their starting safeties.

Denver elected to deactivate Talanoa Hufanga for a fourth-consecutive week since he suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of the Oct. 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Hufanga had practiced throughout the week on a limited basis, which was his first on-field work since the injury.

Friday, the Broncos ruled out fellow safety Brandon Jones, meaning the Broncos will play with a backup combination, as they did in the second half last week when Jones was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

The Broncos’ inactives for the game are as follows:

• CB Kris Abrams-Draine
• TE Dallen Bentley
• OL Kage Casey
• QB Sam Ehlinger (in uniform as No. 3 QB)
• S Talanoa Hufanga
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
• S Brandon Jones

While the Broncos will have both of their first-team safeties unavailable, third-round pick Tyler Onyedim will make his regular-season debut. Onyedim was inactive for the first eight games.

BRONCOS INACTIVES IN 2026

Week 1: RB Tyler Badie, TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DL Jordan Jackson, DL Tyler Onyedim

Week 2: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), RB RJ Harvey, DL Jordan Jackson, WR Marvin Mims Jr., DL Tyler Onyedim

Week 3: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DL Sai’vion Jones, WR Marvin Mims Jr., DL Tyler Onyedim

Week 4: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DL Tyler Onyedim, edge rusher Dondrea Tillman

Week 5: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DL Jordan Jackson, CB Riley Moss, DL Tyler Onyedim, CB Pat Surtain II

Week 6: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (in uniform as No. 3 QB), S Talanoa Hufanga, DL Jordan Jackson, DL Tyler Onyedim, CB Pat Surtain II

Week 7: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (in uniform as No. 3 QB), S Talanoa Hufanga, DL Jordan Jackson, DL Tyler Onyedim, CB Pat Surtain II

Week 8: TE Dallen Bentley, OL Kage Casey, QB Sam Ehlinger (in uniform as No. 3 QB), S Talanoa Hufanga, DL Jordan Jackson, DL Tyler Onyedim, OL Gavin Ortega

BRONCOS INACTIVES FROM 2025

Week 1: TE Nate Adkins, OT Frank Crum, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), ILB Dre Greenlaw, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 2: TE Nate Adkins, OT Frank Crum, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), ILB Dre Greenlaw, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 3: OT Frank Crum, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), TE Evan Engram, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 4: OT Frank Crum, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DE Jordan Jackson, TE Lucas Krull, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 5: OT Frank Crum, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DE Sai’vion Jones, TE Lucas Krull, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 6: OT Frank Crum, RB Tyler Badie, QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), edge rusher Jonah Elliss, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones

Week 7: Edge rusher Jonah Elliss, DB J.T. Gray, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’Vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin

Week 8: QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DB J.T. Gray, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 9: TE Nate Adkins, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, S P.J. Locke, WR Marvin Mims Jr., CB Pat Surtain II

Week 10: TE Nate Adkins, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, WR Marvin Mims Jr., Edge rusher Que Robinson, CB Pat Surtain II

Week 11: TE Nate Adkins, OT Geron Christian, edge rusher Jonah Elliss, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, ILB Alex Singleton, CB Pat Surtain II

Week 13: TE Nate Adkins, OT Geron Christian, edge rusher Jonah Elliss, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones

Week 14: TE Nate Adkins, OT Geron Christian, DL D.J. Jones, DE Jordan Jackson, edge rusher Que Robinson, CB Reese Taylor

Week 15: WR Pat Bryant, OT Geron Christian, QB Sam Ehlinger, DE Jordan Jackson. DE Sai’vion Jones, edge rusher Que Robinson, CB Reese Taylor

Week 16: OT Geron Christian, QB Sam Ehlinger, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, RB Cody Schrader, LB Justin Strnad, CB Reese Taylor

Week 17: TE Nate Adkins, OT Geron Christian, WR Pat Bryant, ILB Dre Greenlaw, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, Edge rusher Que Robinson

Week 18: OT Geron Christian, ILB Dre Greenlaw, DE John Franklin-Myers, TE Marcedes Lewis, edge rusher Que Robinson, CB Reese Taylor

AFC Divisional Playoff: QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency No. 3 QB), DE Sai’vion Jones, TE Caleb Lohner, WR Elijah Moore, ILB Karene Reid, edge rusher Que Robinson, CB Reese Taylor

AFC Championship Game: WR Michael Bandy, C Alex Forsyth, WR Troy Franklin, C Alex Forsyth, DE Jordan Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, ILB Karene Reid, S JL Skinner

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