The Broncos could get cornerback Patrick Surtain II back this week.
Surtain is questionable with his ankle injury.
He has not played since Week 4 when he was injured against the 49ers. Surtain had a third consecutive limited practice on Friday after returning to practice this week.
Running back Jonah Coleman (ankle) also could return.
Coleman, who went on injured reserve after Week 2, had his 21-day return-to-practice window opened Wednesday. He has had three consecutive full practices.
The Broncos ruled out running back Tyler Badie (thumb), outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (ankle) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle). None practiced this week.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) improved to a full participant on Friday after being limited in Denver’s first two practices of the week. Waddle was not assigned a game status.
Cornerback Riley Moss (ribs) was also a full participant on Friday and not given an injury designation.
Broncos Clips
Former Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon died Friday, the team announced. He was 76.
McCutcheon played eight seasons with the Rams (1972-79) and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honoree.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lawrence McCutcheon,” the McCutcheon family said in a statement. “Clutch passed away on Oct. 23 with family at his bedside following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
“Through a decade-long playing career and another 32 years in the Rams’ front office, Clutch earned the respect and admiration of teammates, opposing players, colleagues and fans alike. Clutch will be missed and remembered forever.
“We are thankful to those in our community who have reached out with love and support. In lieu of flowers, we ask that those wishing to honor Clutch please donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.”
McCutcheon also played for Denver, Seattle and Buffalo, retiring after the 1981 season.
He finished his career with 1,521 carries for 6,578 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding 198 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCutcheon played 109 games with 82 starts.
“The Los Angeles Rams are deeply saddened by the passing of Lawrence McCutcheon,” the team said in a statement. “His impact on this organization spanned generations, and he embodied what it means to be a Ram. A five-time Pro Bowl running back and once the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, he later served in our front office as a scout and director of player personnel. His legacy is woven into the fabric of our team.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the McCutcheon family as we celebrate a life that gave so much to the Rams and to our game.”
If the Cardinals are going to stop their nine-game home losing streak, they’re going to have to do it without one of their top young offensive players.
Running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Broncos, head coach Mike LaFleur said in his Friday press conference.
Love missed last week’s win over the Rams with the injury.
In five games this season, Love has rushed for 245 yards with a touchdown, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He’s also caught 11 passes for 36 yards with a TD.
LaFleur also ruled out defensive tackle Walter Nolen (ankle), safety Andrew Wiggins (ankle), and guard Jon Gaines (ankle).
Gaines suffered his injury during Thursday’s practice.
Additionally, quarterback Carson Beck is dealing with back spasms. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and did not participate on Thursday.
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is improving, Mike LaFleur said.
Love, though, did not practice Wednesday.
Love has not practiced since Oct. 9 due to a lingering ankle injury. He injured the ankle in Week 4, played 36 of 73 snaps in Week 5 and missed the Week 6 win over the Rams on Sunday.
The Cardinals also practiced without safety Budda Baker (groin/illness), defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (ankle), offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (rest), outside linebacker Josh Sweat (rest), cornerback Garrett Williams (knee), offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. (illness) and safety Andrew Wingard (knee).
Rookie quarterback Carson Beck (back), cornerback Max Melton (knee) and safety Wydett Williams Jr. (concussion) were limited.
Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper returned to practice Wednesday after spending the first six weeks on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Cooper was arrested twice in seven days in June on domestic violence charges, prompting the paid leave of absence.
Cooper would not answer specific questions about his case, which is scheduled for a March 2 trial, during his first media session since his June 4 and 11 arrests.
“Nobody’s perfect, but there’s no excuses,’' Cooper said, via Jeff Legwold of ESPN, “and I do hold myself accountable and things are going to sort themselves out. I promise that.’'
Cooper is facing five charges after two disputes with his ex-girlfriend that began with a fight over a cell phone. The most serious charge is felony second-degree assault/strangulation.
The NFL has left open the possibility of further punishment for Cooper once his legal matter is resolved.
He was asked what he would say to people, particularly female fans.
“Honestly . . . that’s hard,” Cooper said. “I feel like relationships are difficult, [but] no excuses on my end. I do apologize for anybody’s feelings, truthfully, because you have to be associated with me. I’m a grown man. I’m able to take things on the chin, and I understand the concern, the awareness, how serious these matters are. The legal matters will take care of themselves.”
A seventh-round pick in 2021, Cooper has 31.5 sacks in 81 career games with the Broncos.
The Broncos welcomed a couple of defensive players back to practice on Wednesday.
Cornerback Pat Surtain II took part in practice for the first time since injuring his ankle in Week 4. Surtain was participating in the portion of practice open to the media and his full level of work will be noted on the team’s injury report.
Linebacker Jonathon Cooper also practiced with the team for the first time since being taken off the Commissioner Exempt list. Cooper missed the first six games of the season and the Broncos have a roster exemption for him through their Week 7 game against the Cardinals.
On the other side of the ball, the Broncos have designated running back Jonah Coleman for return from injured reserve. He’s missed the last four games with an ankle injury and can be activated at any point in the next 21 days.
The Cowboys announced that former defensive back Cornell Green died Wednesday. He was 86.
Green grew up in California as an elite basketball player, earning all-state honors. He went to Utah State, where he earned All-America honors in 1961 and ’62. His 1,067 rebounds still stand as the school’s career record, and he is Utah State’s sixth-leading scorer with 1,890 points.
He had planned to join the NBA after the Chicago Zephyrs drafted him in 1962, but the Cowboys offered Green an invite to training camp.
Despite only one year of football experience — his junior year of high school — Green made the Cowboys’ roster.
Green never missed a game over the next 13 seasons, starting 167 of 168 games after his rookie season.
He played cornerback his first eight seasons. Green led the Cowboys in interceptions four times, earned three Pro Bowl invites and garnered two first-team All-Pro honors.
In 1970, Green moved to safety, where he was named a Pro Bowler again in 1971 and ’72.
He played in two NFL Championship Games and Super Bowl V before helping the Cowboys win the Lombardi Trophy with a 24-3 victory over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.
Green retired after the 1974 season and went into scouting. He worked for the Cowboys and Broncos, earning NFL Scout of the Year in 2010.
Green’s 34 career interceptions are tied for fifth in the team record book.
The Rams have found a new kicker.
According to multiple reports, veteran Brandon McManus has agreed to join Los Angeles.
McManus, 35, was most recently with the Packers last season. He made 24-of-30 field goals and 32-of-33 extra points in 14 regular season games. But in the playoff loss to Chicago, he missed two field goals and an extra point, leading the Packers to move on in the offseason.
McManus is a Super Bowl champion, having won it with Denver to cap the 2015 season. He made all 10 field goals and all three extra points in that postseason run.
In 186 career regular-season games, McManus has made 82.0 percent of his field goals and 97.4 percent of his extra points.
Los Angeles placed kicker Blake Grupe on injured reserve on Monday after he suffered a torn ACL during Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. The club had released Harrison Mevis last week after a rough start to the season.
The Rams will be on the road to face the Raiders in Week 7.
Although an unresolved question lingers regarding whether or not the numbers are inflated by anyone who visits Amazon Prime and gets an autoplay video of the game, the official, Nielsen-generated numbers for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football keep improving.
The Week 6 game between the Seahawks and Broncos averaged 16.26 million viewers. In its fifth game of 2026, Prime Video posted a higher number than the corresponding week in 2025.
The five-week average is 17.29 million, a nine-percent bump over the 2025 pace, and 13 percent above the full-season average.
The 2026 Week 6 audience bested the 2025 Week 6 audience (Eagles-Giants) by one percent.
This week, the schedule deals Prime Video a good one — the 4-2 Patriots vs. the 4-2 Bears. Hopefully, neither of the quarterbacks will play like “garbage.”
After Thursday night’s overtime win by the Broncos over the Seahawks, Prime Video’s Ryan Fitzpatrick sharply criticized quarterback Bo Nix, calling his performance “garbage.”
Broncos coach Sean Payton clearly doesn’t see it that way.
On Monday, Payton was asked by reporters whether he has considered making a quarterback change.
“To answer your question, no,” Payton said. “He’s going to become the byproduct of all the finer things that get improved. The improved play from our offensive line, the more efficient we are relative to balance, running the football. That’s our jobs as coaches here. We talked after the game about we’re excited to get that win, and yet at the same time find that improvement we need in all areas. So, it starts with all of us.”
Payton also was asked whether he listens to any of the media comments about Nix, including Fitzpatrick’s remarks.
“I try to focus on the next day here,” Payton said. “We’re trying to focus on getting ready to play Arizona. That’s kind of where our attention is.”
Payton could have taken the bait to talk about Fitzpatrick. Payton chose not to do it. If he had chimed in, Payton’s response could have been nearly as entertaining as Aqib Talib’s takedown of Fitzpatrick.
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick will get another chance to evaluate and critique Nix. The Broncos face the Steelers on Black Friday, and the game will be televised by Prime Video.
