Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered a chest injury during the second half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Cardinals' home stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The injury occurred with 4:51 left in regulation when Waddle fell on the ball during a reverse play, immediately grabbing his left chest and shoulder area before trainers rushed to his aid. Waddle had 4 catches for 48 yards before exiting the game. He had played all 7 games of the season, totaling 276 yards and 1 touchdown, and was projected to finish with 670 yards.
The Broncos acquired Waddle in March via a trade that involved a first-round pick. Waddle had previously injured his ankle earlier in the season. The injury adds to a physically demanding year for the young player. Waddle was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a chest injury, was a full participant on Friday, and was cleared to play against the Cardinals.
Payton Takes Blame
Head coach Sean Payton later shouldered the blame for the play call, which sidelined the standout playmaker as Denver dropped another contest in a difficult stretch of the season. Payton questioned his own decision-making immediately after the final whistle. The veteran coach expressed regret over the play design that resulted in Waddle going down under defensive pressure. "Why hasn’t anyone asked me about the dumb reverse call?" Payton asked. "It was awful, alright, I’m sorry."
The mistake brought back unpleasant memories for the Denver coach from a previous tenure. Payton recalled a eerily similar sequence from 2008 when a radical reverse ended in a costly fumble and a loss against Tampa Bay. "If you look it up, in 2008 in a similar situation, even a more radical reverse, fumbled," Payton said. "Tampa Bay beat us. I know better. Every once in a while you fall in love with a play."
Season Statistics
Waddle entered Sunday having appeared in all 7 games for Denver. He accumulated 276 yards and 1 touchdown through those contests, maintaining a projection to finish the year with 670 yards. The organization acquired Waddle in March through a blockbuster trade that cost the franchise a first-round draft pick. Medical staff monitored the receiver closely following the collision, leaving his availability for upcoming practices uncertain as the team evaluates the severity of the damage. With 17 years of experience, Payton knows the importance of player safety and will likely take a cautious approach with Waddle's injury.
The Broncos will have to wait and see how Waddle's injury affects their upcoming games, with 9 remaining in the regular season. As for now, the team will focus on getting Waddle healthy and back on the field as soon as possible. With a total of 16 games in the season, the Broncos are hoping to make a strong comeback and make it to the playoffs.