Broncos try to add multiple tight ends via waivers, come up empty

The Denver Broncos got the tough news on Monday that tight end Lucas Krull could potentially be out for the season as he underwent surgery on his left foot, a procedure that’s expected to keep him on the sidelines for at least eight weeks. He suffered the injury in practice back at the start of the month, and missed four games on the IR list before undergoing surgery.

Theoretically Krull’s absence should create some room in an already crowded tight end room with Evan Engram, Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman, especially given the fact that Bo Nix hasn’t been spreading the wealth around to the guys in the room. Engram just started to get involved in the offense recently, and the talent in the wide receiver room tends to get more looks from the second-year quarterback than the other tight ends on the roster.

Krull played in three games with the Broncos this year before getting hurt in practice. He had two catches for 15 yards. For his career in Denver, Krull has 29 receptions for 262 yards and one touchdown. He was never the top target in the room.

However, the Broncos went out and attempted to make two separate waiver claims — both for tight ends — on Monday, but came up empty as there were other teams higher on the priority board who also put in claims for the same players.

Broncos put in waiver claims Monday for TE Brendan Bates and TE Ben Sims. But Cleveland had a higher claim and was awarded Bates, and Minnesota had a higher claim and was awarded Sims.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 28, 2025

Brendan Bates and Ben Sims were the two players the Broncos pursued on the waiver wire. Bates saw limited game action with the Browns last year in his rookie campaign and appeared in three games for the Texans this year. He has two receptions for 23 yards on three targets in his career. Sims was on the Packers for the first two years of his career in 2023 and 2024, where he recorded eight catches (11 targets) for 63 yards and a touchdown. Bates played his college ball at Kentucky, while Sims is a Big 12 product from Baylor.

Is Sean Payton just looking for more depth in the room, whether for blocking or for pass catching? It sure seems so, but he wasn’t able to bring any to the Mile High City this time.

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