Nate

Adkins

Jones’ absence is due to an ankle injury, leaving the Broncos’ defense without its starting nose tackle. DL Zach Allen (calf) is active as is WR Pat Bryant (hamstring) after missing two practice days. Allen has tallied 48 quarterback pressures and eight sacks so far this season. He has strong odds of increasing both sums against Raiders QB Geno Smith (foot), who enters Week 14 with the second-highest sack total (46) this year.

That means standout corner Pat Surtain makes his return to the active roster after missing the previous three games, making the Broncos one of the healthier teams in the league as they enter Week 13. They’ll take on an injury ravaged Commanders team without its starting quarterback as Jayden Daniels was ruled out earlier in the week.

This is a tough break for Mims, who remained sidelined through all three practices this week. His absence coincides with WR Troy Franklin seemingly solidifying his status as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver. The Broncos face the Raiders’ fantasy-friendly defense in Week 10. If Mims can return, there’s a chance he can deliver FLEX results thanks to the soft matchup. The Broncos also ruled out TE Nate Adkins (knee).

Adkins suffered a knee injury during the Week 8 win over the Jets, and is not expected to be able to play in Week 9 against the Texans. Marcedes Lewis was signed from the practice squad and will likely see most of the snaps in Adkins’ place.

Atkins typically plays a blocking role, but he broke free for a 16-yard score in the first quarter, giving him his first touchdown of the season. He is still splitting reps with Evan Engram, though the latter operates as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. It should go without saying, but Atkins is not on the fantasy radar for Week 7.

It was Trautman’s second touchdown of the 2024 season and his highest receiving yardage total in well over a month. He logged a pass route on a meager 12 of the Broncos’ 39 drop backs against the Colts. Nate Adkins, who also caught a touchdown in Week 15, ran 11 routes on the day. Neither Denver tight end is fantasy viable.

It’s the first touchdown of Adkins’ career. The 6-foot-3 252-pound tight end has received no more than one target in any game this year, but at least this time he was able to find the end zone with the three-yard connection from Bo Nix. He’ll continue to block and hope to catch more than one pass in Week 9 against the Ravens.