The Denver Broncos are getting ready for a huge game that they'll have to play with starting QB Bo Nix on the sideline.
A fractured ankle is keeping Nix out of action for the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. Jarrett Stidham will start instead.
As they get ready, they made one small roster move on Tuesday to continue preparations: They signed WR Brandon Johnson to the practice squad.
The purpose of the move could come more into focus as the week goes on, but the Broncos do have both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant dinged up from the Divisional Round win over the Bills.
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Johnson was on the Steelers practice squad for the last few weeks of the regular season.
In 2025, Johnson also spent time with the Buccaneers.
He last appeared in an NFL game in 2024, when he played three games for the Steelers and caught a single pass for nine yards.
Johnson actually began his NFL career with the Broncos. He was undrafted out of UCF, but the 6-foot-2 WR played in 20 games across 2022 and 2023 for the Broncos. He caught 25 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns.
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Now 27 years old, Johnson hasn't been able to stick after this decent contributions in those years, but he's still lingering on the fringes of the NFL.
Johnson is the fifth WR on the Broncos' practice squad, along with Elijah Moore, Michael Bandy, A.T. Perry and Kyrese Rowan.
If Franklin or Bryant have to miss this week, a couple of them could get call-ups.
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