News: Scores, Stats, Headlines, Injury Updates, Transactions & More (2024)

The Falcons continue to make late-offseason additions to their defense. Less than 24 hours after they traded for disgruntled Patriots pass-rusher Matthew Judon, the Falcons were at it again, signing Simmons to a one-year deal to help bolster their secondary. Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and a four-time Second-Team All-Pro, who has amassed 30 interceptions in 118 career games since being drafted by the Broncos in 2016. Simmons earned a PFF coverage grade of 63.4 last season and should fit nicely with safety Jessie Bates. Before signing with the Falcons, Simmons also met with the Saints.

Per Payton, Nix will also get the majority of the first-team reps in practice this week. Jarrett Stidham got the same treatment heading into his start in the Broncos’ preseason opener versus the Colts. Nix went 15-of-21 for 125 yards and a touchdown in relief of Stidham in that game. A good outing this week should lock him in as the Broncos’ Week 1 starter. If he struggles, the door will remain cracked for Stidham to get the nod in Week 1.

DiNucci spent last season on the Broncos practice squad and hasn’t played a regular-season snap since 2020. The veteran backup joins a Bills team that lost Shane Buechele to a neck injury in their first preseason game and will likely see some snaps in the team’s upcoming preseason game against the Steelers.

Krull mixed in for one first-team-offense snap, playing behind starter Adam Trautman (0 targets) and Greg Dulcich (who caught 1-of-2 targets for 5 yards). Should the Broncos continue their tight end quagmire, none of the three will be fantasy-relevant.

Vele, a seventh-round rookie out of Utah, notably played ahead of fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin (caught 0-of-1 targets). The development pushes Franklin to the edge of late-round dart-throw status while elevating Vele to dynasty waiver wire lists.

PFF’s Nathan Jahnke notes Mims was in the for the Broncos’ first offensive snap before being subbed out for journeyman Josh Reynolds (caught 1-of-2 targets for 11 yards), who handled No. 3 WR duties with the first-team offense. Mims returned to play on the fourth drive and played well into the third quarter. It is a situation to monitor closely next week.

Patrick played on 11 of the first-team offense’s first 12 snaps, suggesting he is currently the team’s No. 2 wide receiver. The snaps were Patrick’s first in-game since 2021, having suffered summer ACL and Achilles tendon injuries in consecutive seasons. The development suddenly places Patrick on the late-round-value radar.

Sutton and the first-team offense stayed on-field for the third drive, taking repetitions with Broncos’ No. 2 QB on Sunday, Bo Nix. Sutton is the clear-cut No. 1 WR and helpfully took three snaps lined up in the slot (14.3 percent rate).

Watson did not enter the game until the fourth quarter, likely ending his late-round fantasy viability but his pass-catching juice remains undeniable. Watson should be safely stashed on dynasty taxi squads.

It was an up-and-down performance for the rookie, who currently sits fourth on the Broncos depth chart. The fumble aside, Estime impressively earned a positive aDOT (1.4 yards) and tallied three total first downs gained. His 66.7 percent conversion rate on three green zone carries bodes positively for a potential specialized role down the road.