Broncos players on the waiver wire Sunday and Monday could prove to be very popular.

NFL teams must trim rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 by 4 p.m. Sunday. Teams can put in claims on waived players until 11 a.m. Monday. Due to Denver’s tremendous depth, there could be some intriguing players let go.

“There’s so much (talent) in that locker room that I do think that guys (let go) are going to have an opportunity to go somewhere else and play,” said wide receiver Courtland Sutton, seemingly knowing the Broncos won’t be able to keep everyone they like for the practice squad.

Players on the roster bubble have one last chance to show their stuff in the Broncos’ preseason finale Friday night against Minnesota at Empower Field. Coach Sean Payton said starting quarterback Bo Nix likely won’t play and it would be a surprise if he uses many starters.

The offseason roster limit is 90 but the Broncos actually have 91 due to punter Jeremy Crawshaw, a native of Australia, having an international exemption. But that exemption will go away when Crawshaw is placed Sunday on the 53-man roster.

While the Broncos must make at least 38 roster moves, there are ways they can hold onto some players they don’t want to perhaps see end up on other teams.

The Broncos can place two players Sunday on injured reserve and they would have to miss at least the first four games. Candidates for those spots are center Alex Forsyth, tackle Frank Crum, linebacker Drew Sanders and tight end Caleb Lohner. Crum played in Denver’s first two preseason games, Sanders in the first one and Forsyth in neither. Lohner missed all of training camp following left-knee surgery.

Only players with less than four years’ experience are exposed to waivers if let go while players with more experience are considered to be vested veterans. Since Payton took over in 2023, Denver regularly has released vested veterans on deadline day with the expectation they will be added to the 16-man practice squad and could be in line for eventual elevations.

A number of players have remained loyal and joined Denver’s practice squad rather than possibly go elsewhere. And with players on the practice squad getting up to three elevations in a season, that would allow the Broncos to buy some time while sorting out matters early in the campaign.

“I think each year is different, but I think it’s part of the evaluation and part of roster management,’’ Payton said of that maneuver.

Vested veterans who could be candidates for the practice squad include quarterback Sam Ehlinger, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, fullback Adam Prentice, offensive linemen Calvin Throckmorton and Matt Peart and safety Tycen Anderson. When Ehlinger was on the practice squad last season, he turned down multiple offers to join another team’s 53-man roster.

With Nix likely to watch the preseason game from the sideline, Jarrett Stidham is expected to start Friday’s game followed by Ehlinger taking over. The two are battling for the backup job, with Stidham holding the upper hand.

Payton declined to speculate Wednesday on whether the Broncos will keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. If Ehlinger is the odd man out and sought for Denver’s practice squad, it would remain to be seen whether he again turns down a possible offer elsewhere.

Also on offense, it is uncertain whether the Broncos will keep three or four running backs. Locks are J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman, with Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie on the bubble. And whether Prentice starts on the 53-man roster or the practice squad also factors in that decision.

At tight end, the Broncos are a good bet to keep four in Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and rookie Justin Joly. At wide receiver, five are locks to make the 53 with Humphrey perhaps being a candidate to start on the practice squad.

Injuries to Forsyth and Crum will factor into who makes the 53-man roster on the offensive line, which could include nine total players. Throckmorton and Peart are two healthy bubble candidates.

On defense, the Broncos must decide whether to keep six or seven linemen. Air Force graduate Jordan Jackson must be regarded as a bubble candidate. While second-year man Sai’vion Jones hasn’t done a lot in training camp and the preseason, it would be a surprise if the 2025 third-round pick is waived.

At outside linebacker, the Broncos have five they want on the opening 53-man roster in starters Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto and reserves Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman and Que Robinson. The only way that seemingly would change would be if an NFL penalty results in Cooper not being available for the Sept. 14 opener at Kansas City. Cooper is facing a felony domestic violence charge and two misdemeanors for an alleged June incident in Douglas County. He has a hearing scheduled for Monday.

At inside linebacker, the Broncos must decide whether to keep one reserve on the 53-man roster behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad or two. Karene Reid might be in good position for one spot and seventh-round pick Red Murdock also might have done enough to make the 53. Jordan Turner could make the 53-man roster but has to be regarded as a bubble candidate.

In the secondary, there might not be a lot of suspense. At cornerback, five players are locks, including reserves Kris Abrams-Draine and Jadhae Barron. At safety, two reserves look to be locks in special teams ace Devon Key and JL Skinner. It remains to be seen if Anderson, signed for his special teams prowess, will end up having done enough to get a spot on the 53.

All of this could leave two draft picks in jeopardy of being waived in safety Miles Scott and tight end Dallen Bentley, seventh-round selections who both would be candidates for the practice squad if let go. It remains to be seen which players other teams might pounce on that are exposed to waivers by the Broncos.

“I think that gets weighed in a lot,’’ Payton said of how the Broncos look at the risk of a waived player being claimed. “I’ll turn to the analytics and a lot of it is what kind of tape the opponents (are) seeing and that gets weighed in a lot. Who do we feel like is more likely to get claimed? Certain positions are more likely to get claimed. So that’s always a challenge.”

Due to their depth, the Broncos will end up having to take some risks. There could be interest in Forsyth or Sanders if either is not on the 53-man roster or injured reserve. And McLaughlin could create interest if waived.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has lauded his three undrafted rookie returners in receivers Kolbe Katsis and Cameron Ross and defensive back Sean Fresch Jr. All look to be candidates for Denver’s practice squad barring any waiver claims.

Sutton has seen firsthand the Broncos’ depth at receiver. With the Broncos having him, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. and with Humphrey on the bubble, there’s no room for anyone else to possibly make the 53. In addition to Katsis and Ross, undrafted rookie Dane Key, Devon’s brother, also has shown flashes at the position.

“Speaking solely for my room, I really enjoy our room,’’ Sutton said. “It’s a lot of talent in there.”

With that in mind, some of that talent, as well as talent at other Denver positions, could be heading elsewhere next week.

53-man roster projection:

Beat writer Chris Tomasson projects the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster:

Offense (25)

Quarterback (3)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger

Running back (4)

J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman, Jaleel McLaughlin

Wide receiver (5)

Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr.

Tight end (4)

Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, Justin Joly

Offensive line (9)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Calvin Throckmorton, Kage Casey

Defense (25)

Defensive line (7)

Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Eyioma Uwazurike, Malcolm Roach, Sai’vion Jones, Jordan Jackson, Tyler Onyedim

Outside linebacker (5)

Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson

Inside linebacker (4)

Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Karene Reid, Red Murdock

Cornerback (5)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine, Jahdae Barron

Safety (4)

Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner

Specialists (3)

Wil Lutz, kicker

Jeremy Crawshaw, punter

Mitchell Fraboni, long snapper