Broncos Elevate WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Place S Caden Sterns on IR

The Denver Broncos began its Week 2 preparation with a trio of transactions, promoting wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey to the active roster and placing safety Caden Sterns on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.

Denver also signed WR Michael Bandy to the practice squad.

Humphrey, who followed head coach Sean Payton from New Orleans, was released at final cuts and re-signed to the taxi squad. The Broncos elevated him to the 53 before the season-opener against Las Vegas. Humphrey made two catches for 11 yards and a touchdown — the club's first of the year — in the 17-16 loss.

“He’s smart, he's tough, he’s got great hands … he’s a physical receiver," Payton said after Wednesday's practice.

Humphrey rounds out a five-deep Broncos receiving corps that features Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Marvin Mims, and Brandon Johnson. Jeudy could return to action against the Washington Commanders after missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury.

Sterns, unfortunately, will not return in 2023 — the result of a patellar tendon injury suffered on his second defensive snap versus the Raiders. Payton confirmed the issue is "probably season-ending."

With S PJ Locke (leg) on short-term injured reserve, the Broncos will start veteran Kareem Jackson in Sterns' stead, opposite Justin Simmons. Behind them on the depth chart are Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner.

Bandy, a 2020 undrafted free agent, was waived last month during Denver's roster cutdown and resurfaced on the practice squad, from which he was released on Sept. 1.