The Denver Broncos have proven they can compete with the best in the NFL, marking a sharp contrast to the underperforming teams of the past decade. With a 5-5 record as they approach the final stretch of the 2024 season, the Broncos are poised to end their playoff drought, which has persisted since 2015, and secure their first winning record since 2016.
To turn their playoff aspirations into reality, the Broncos will need their full roster in the coming weeks, but they’ll be without wide receiver Josh Reynolds for at least one more game. According to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper, Reynolds will miss the Week 11 home game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Reynolds, who was placed on injured reserve due to a hand injury and additional recovery from being shot on October 18, had been designated for return but was ruled out for Sunday’s game. He signed a 2-year, $9 million deal with the Broncos in March 2024 and had made 12 catches for 183 yards and 1 touchdown in his first five games before being sidelined.
Reynolds’ Shocking Shooting Incident in Denver
Reynolds’ time on injured reserve follows a disturbing sequence of events. After fracturing a finger on his right hand in a victory against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 12, Reynolds was caught in a shooting incident just days later. On October 18, he was one of two victims shot while traveling in an SUV along Interstate 25 in Denver, shortly after leaving a strip club. Two suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Reports detailed the severity of the injuries, with one victim suffering gunshot wounds to the back of the head and arm, while Reynolds was hit in the back. A third person sustained glass injuries to their hand.
A Near Miss with the Super Bowl in 2023
Before his time in Denver, Reynolds enjoyed a strong season with the Detroit Lions in 2023. He appeared in all 17 games, starting 13, and recorded 40 receptions for 608 yards and 5 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he added 8 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown, but two crucial drops in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, when the Lions led 24-7 at halftime, were heavily scrutinized. Reynolds, however, took the loss in stride, acknowledging the mistakes but expressing confidence in his ability to bounce back.
“(Expletive) happens, man,” Reynolds told The Detroit Free Press. “I know what kind of player I am. Didn’t want to drop them. (Expletive) happens. I just … do I want those back? Of course, but I can’t, and I just got to work this offseason and be prepared for the moment when it comes.”
A two-time All-SEC selection at Texas A&M, Reynolds was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Now in his eighth season, he continues to add value to the Broncos’ offense, though he faces another setback on his journey to contribute again this season.
