DENVER — Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant has cleared a major hurdle in his recovery, officially being activated from injured reserve on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Despite carrying a questionable designation into the weekend due to a right ankle sprain, the second-year pass-catcher is fully expected to suit up and take the field for Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The transaction comes after a rigorous week of preparation that saw Bryant return to the practice field in a full capacity. Head coach Sean Payton indicated to local media on Friday that the young wideout is in line to make his anticipated return to game action this weekend, pending final pre-game warmups and confirmation roughly 90 minutes before Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Bryant’s journey back to the active roster began earlier in the week when the Broncos designated him for return from injured reserve on Wednesday, November 4. That designation opened a 21-day window for him to practice with the team, but his seamless integration and heavy involvement throughout the week’s sessions convinced the coaching staff that he was ready to contribute sooner rather than later.
The injury sidelined Bryant for over a month. He suffered the sprained right ankle during a tough Week 4 loss on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, an unfortunate sequence that required him to be carted off the field. The severity of the ailment forced the team’s hand, leading to his placement on injured reserve ahead of Week 5 action on October 9.
Prior to the setback, Bryant had been working to carve out a consistent role within Sean Payton’s offensive scheme. Selected by the Broncos in the third round—74th overall—of the 2025 NFL Draft, Bryant signed a four-year, $6.58 million rookie contract in May of 2025. Entering the league out of the University of Illinois as a surprise mid-round pick, the 6-foot-2, 202-pound receiver caught the attention of scouts following a breakout senior campaign where he hauled in 54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.
As a rookie in 2025, Bryant acclimated to the professional level by serving primarily as a developmental piece and learning the nuances of the X-receiver position behind veteran leader Courtland Sutton. His rookie year trajectory included steady growth, highlighted by a notable stretch in the middle of the season when injuries to the receiving corps—such as a concussion suffered by teammate Marvin Mims—pushed Bryant into more prominent offensive packages, including serving as the team’s primary third wide receiver alongside Sutton and Troy Franklin.
Now, as the Broncos prepare to face the Panthers on the road in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season, Bryant aims to pick up where he left off before the ankle injury halted his momentum. His presence adds another weapon to the Denver passing attack, which faces a Carolina defense that has surrendered an overall quarterback rating against of 76.1 this year. With full practices under his belt and the backing of his coaching staff, Bryant is positioned to rejoin the active lineup and help anchor the wide receiver rotation as the Broncos push through the second half of the regular season.
