ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — To begin the season, the Broncos’ official depth chart was nothing if not inclusive.
Perhaps for the first time in Broncos' depth chart history, the players-by-position status included two players from the practice squad — Michael Burton as the No. 1 fullback and Lil’Jordan Humphrey as a second-string receiver.
“I tried to put seven and Patrick (Smyth) omitted five,’’ Payton said of the Broncos’ public relations chief.
“But no, look, those two guys have been with us,’’ Payton said in explaining the presence of Burton and Humphrey. “I don’t know that there’s any rule whether we can put practice squad players on, but they’ll be important to our team and throughout the year.”
Payton stopped short of saying Burton and Humphrey would be the Broncos’ two elevated practice-squad players for the game Sunday at Seattle. But the depth chart may be a tell.
“Didn’t know that,’’ Humphrey said about his depth chart listing. “I don’t know that it means anything, I just go out there and do my job, make sure I’m prepared each and every week so if it’s my time to get called up, I’m ready.”
Understand, Burton and Humphrey would rather be on the 53-man active roster. The money is better up there. But because there were some rookies and first-year players who the Broncos’ bosses didn’t want to expose to the waiver wire, the veterans got cut with the understanding they would be elevated from the practice squad early in the season and added to the active roster as spots opened.
“Yeah, I talked to coach Payton and he broke it down, what my role is going to be,’’ Humphrey said. “And I accepted it.”
Was there talk of an early-season elevation on game day?
“Something in that sense. We’ll see how things work out,’’ Humphrey said. “I don’t know what they want to do upstairs. Whatever they want to do, I just follow along.”
A sixth-year receiver who played his first three seasons for Payton in New Orleans, Humphrey also began last season on the Broncos’ practice squad yet wound up playing in all 17 games. He finished with 13 catches, 162 yards, three touchdowns and a couple dozen impressive blocks in the run game.
Humphrey’s biggest play was on New Year’s Eve when he took a crossing pattern completion from Jarrett Stidham, then weaved and rammed his way for a 54-yard touchdown in a 16-9 win against the Chargers.
“Hopefully I can do a lot more of that this year,’’ Humphrey said. “You’ve just got to go out there on Sundays and make plays and do your job.’’
Bronco Bits
Denver listed no players on its final injury report Friday. …
The Broncos worked out former Chargers linebacker Andrew Farmer on Friday. A product of Lane (Fla.) College, Farmer played in eight games for the Chargers last year as an undrafted rookie. He was among the team’s final cuts last week. …
With Lumen Field having artificial turf, Payton had his team practice indoors Friday at the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. ...
Garett Bolles will make his 100th career start Sunday. He's the sixth offensive tackle in Broncos' history to reach that milestone and the only one to start 100 at left tackle.
