Josh Reynolds

Broncos Designate Josh Reynolds For Return

The Broncos have designated wide receiver Josh Reynolds for return from injured reserve and opened his 21-day practice window, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

Reynolds landed on injured reserve on October 12 after undergoing finger surgery. He also was wounded in a shooting two weeks later outside of a Denver nightclub, though he was only treated for minor injuries.

The veteran receiver was a full participant in his first practice in a month, per the Broncos’ official injury report. Denver is well behind the Chiefs in the AFC West, but they remain in contention for a wildcard spot with a 5-5 record through 10 weeks. Reynolds’ return will add an experienced target into an offense that is averaging just 186.6 passing yards per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL.

Reynolds’ absence did allow the Broncos to give more snaps to their young receiving corps, with rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele both seeing increased playing time in recent weeks. Franklin has disappointed after a productive career at Oregon, catching just 15 of his 29 targets for 144 yards in nine games. Vele, however, has been able to make up much of Reynolds’ production with an 81.5% catch rate and 35.8 yards per game, just shy of Reynolds’ 36.6 yards per game to start the season.

Reynolds will have 21 days to practice with the team before he must be added to the active roster. Otherwise, he reverts to season-ending injured reserve and would not play again this year.

Broncos WR Josh Reynolds Wounded In Shooting

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds sustained multiple gunshot wounds, Janet Oravitz of 9News reports, during an incident that occurred last week outside a strip club.

Reynolds sustained wounds on the back of his head and in his left arm, according to court documents, in a shooting that took place the morning of October 18. Reynolds and one other man were wounded in the shooting, Oravetz reports. The shooting happened hours after the Broncos’ win over the Saints; on IR, Reynolds did not travel to New Orleans with the team for that game.

The Broncos signed Reynolds to a two-year, $9MM deal this offseason. He is currently on IR with a finger injury. The team placed the veteran wideout on IR nearly a week before the shooting. That injury obviously becomes a secondary concern for the team in light of this incident.

This is obviously a concerning situation for Reynolds and the Broncos. The team, however, released a statement (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) indicating Reynolds is OK and has received treatment for minor injuries. The free agency addition has watched Broncos practices from the sideline this week, 9News’ Mike Klis adds.

Reynolds, 29, joined two others in leaving the club shortly before 3am on October 18. Two drivers followed Reynolds and the men he was with, and the gunshots took place soon after. The victims said, according to court documents, no conflict developed inside the club. The car Reynolds was traveling in became undrivable once it moved onto the highway, and the men inside fled. Reynolds and the two men with him also sustained injuries from climbing over a fence in an attempt to evade the shooters, Oravetz adds.

Police arrested two men Wednesday in connection with the crime. Security footage from the club, Shotgun Willies, showed one of the men arrested observing the victims inside the club and was then seen following them in a vehicle.

After trading Jerry Jeudy to the Browns, the Broncos reached an agreement with Reynolds, who had played out his Lions contract. Joining the Lions in 2021, Reynolds became a key target for Jared Goff, with whom he had also played on the Rams. The 6-foot-3 wideout caught 40 passes for 608 yards last season. As Detroit aimed to increase Jameson Williams‘ role, its offer to Reynolds did not match Denver’s.

Denver used Reynolds as a complementary target during Bo Nix‘s first month at the helm. Before landing on IR, Reynolds had caught 12 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown. Denver has Reynolds and Courtland Sutton as the biggest names in a receiving group that features three players (Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele) drafted in the past two years. Reynolds started one game before going on IR.

Broncos Place Josh Reynolds, Luke Wattenberg On IR, Activate Audric Estime

Josh Reynolds recently underwent finger surgery, and it will keep him sidelined for a notable period. The Broncos wideout was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per a team announcement.

Reynolds had already been ruled out for Week 6, with further missed time being on the table. Today’s move confirms he will be sidelined for at least the next four games, something which will create a notable vacancy in Denver’s receiving corps. The free agent pickup’s 138 yards rank second on the team this season.

Finding production through the air will be a key goal moving forward for the 3-2 Broncos. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has shown signs of improvement compared to his opening two contests, but without Reynolds in the fold Courtland Sutton will be leaned on even more in the passing game. The likes of Marvin MimsLil’Jordan HumphreyDeVaughn Vele and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin will be counted on to help fill the void created by the 29-year-old’s absence.

Lloyd Cushenberry departed the Broncos in free agency, landing a big-ticket deal with the Titans. His departure left an opening on a Denver offensive line which is otherwise spoken for in terms of first-team contributors. A competition amongst internal replacement options took place during the offseason, with Wattenberg edging out Alex Forsyth for the gig. Wattenberg, 27, hardly played during his first two seasons in Denver but he logged every snap to begin the 2024 campaign before going down in Week 5.

Forsyth took over at center last week, and he represents a logical candidate to start moving forward. Drafted in the seventh round last year (after playing with Nix at Oregon), Forsyth did not see any playing time as a rookie. The 25-year-old dressed for each of Denver’s first four contests but only logged special teams snaps before Wattenberg’s injury. That could change over the coming games.

In more positive injury news, rookie running back Audric Estime was activated from IR. The fifth-rounder was injured in Week 1, so Sunday’s contest marked the earliest point at which he could be brought back into the lineup. Estime practiced this week, suggesting he would indeed be activated today. With Tyler Badie on injured reserve, a depth role should await him right away behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.

Broncos WR Josh Reynolds To Miss Time

The Broncos will be shorthanded at the receiver spot for a stretch. Josh Reynolds underwent finger surgery, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

As a result of the procedure, Reynolds will miss Denver’s Week 6 game against the Chargers. Further time on the shelf could be in store as well, per Wilson. Missing the free agent pickup for any extended stretch would hinder a receiving corps which has not posted strong numbers to date.

The Broncos rank 22nd in scoring (19.2 points per game) and are averaging only 164 yards through the air through five contests. The development of first-round rookie quarterback Bo Nix is of course a central factor in the team’s improvement on offense, but Reynolds will be missed while he recovers. The latter ranks second on the team with 183 receiving yards.

Courtland Sutton‘s name was again mentioned in trade speculation this offseason, but he and the Broncos reached agreement on additional incentives for the 2024 campaign. Sutton remains under contract through 2025, and with Jerry Jeudy having been dealt to the Browns (along with Tim Patrick‘s release) he has been leaned on as Denver’s top wideout. The team also has Marvin Mims, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DeVaughn Vele and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin in place at the receiver spot.

Reynolds had a strong season with the Lions in 2023, posting 608 yards and five touchdowns. Detroit showed interest in retaining the 29-year-old, but the team did not submit a market level offer. Reynolds cited the presence of head coach Sean Payton as a reason he signed with the Broncos on a two-year, $9MM pact. That investment has made him a key figure on offense, but the 3-2 outfit will need to get by without him for a short-term period.

WR Josh Reynolds On Lions Departure, Broncos Deal

Josh Reynolds enjoyed a strong campaign in 2023 with the Lions, but he found himself on the move in free agency this offseason. The veteran receiver joined the Broncos on a two-year deal, something he recently addressed.

Reynolds posted 4o catches and 608 yards with Detroit last season; both of those figures represented the second-highest totals of his career. He also matched a personal best with five touchdowns. That production kept him on the Lions’ radar, but the team did not submit a market-level contract offer. As a result, Reynolds ultimately signed in Denver on a pact with a base value of $9MM.

“[It’s] business,” the 29-year-old said of the Lions not making a stronger push to re-sign him this offseason (via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire). “It’s a business, but you know, I think I’m at where I’m supposed to be at, and I’m excited.”

The Broncos traded away Jerry Jeudy as part of their re-tooling at the receiver spot. Tim Patrick remains in the fold, as does Courtland Sutton (although in the latter case a contract standoff is currently taking place). Denver also has 2023 second-rounder Marin Mims along with fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin in place as targets for the team’s revamped QB room. Reynolds will aim to carve out a role as part of that group, and he noted the appeal of playing under head coach Sean Payton as a key factor in signing with Denver.

“It was kind of a lot,” the Texas A&M product added when speaking about the reasons why he joined the Broncos. “I think the main decision was that I’ve always admired Sean Payton from afar. I was excited to see what that offense looked like.”

Denver struggled under Nathaniel Hackett for less than a full season in 2022, and Payton’s arrival brought about a slight improvement. The team finished 19th in scoring last year, but a step forward in passing efficiency in particular will be needed in Payton’s second year at the helm. With Russell Wilson no longer in the fold, all eyes will be on which signal-caller earns the Week 1 nod once training camp and the preseason commences. For Reynolds, though, 2024 will mark the opportunity to establish himself as a key receiving option and a strong fit in Payton’s scheme.

Lions Submitted Offer To WR Josh Reynolds

Josh Reynolds has spent nearly his entire career as a Jared Goff target, with only a brief Titans tenure interrupting a seven-year run as such. But the quarterback and wide receiver are going their separate ways, with the Broncos signing Reynolds earlier this week.

The Lions viewed Reynolds as a player they wanted back, per GM Brad Holmes, who called re-signing the eighth-year veteran the team’s “Plan A” at the position. But the Broncos came in with a two-year deal that KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes checks in at $9MM in base value. Reynolds’ Denver contract can max out at $14MM, though only $4.25MM is guaranteed, providing the Broncos some flexibility in 2025.

[RELATED: Lions Aimed To Keep G Jonah Jackson]

Although the Lions sought another agreement with Reynolds, the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett indicates the team offered the former Rams draftee a below-market contract. The team made that offer at the start of free agency and maintained minimal contact with him in the days that followed. This preceded the Broncos’ second-wave signing, with Reynolds set to join a receiving corps that lost Jerry Jeudy via trade.

It appears the team’s interest included a low price point, with Birkett adding this offer came about because it is expected Reynolds would have been the Lions’ No. 3 wideout in 2024. This points to a bigger role for Jameson Williams, who has seen his January 2022 knee injury and subsequent gambling suspension lead to a slow start. But the 2022 first-rounder flashed at points last season, showing tremendous speed through the air and on the ground.

Williams finished with only 354 receiving yards last season, which began in October due to what turned out to be a five-game gambling ban (after an NFL rule changed shortened it). The Lions already have Amon-Ra St. Brown on the extension radar. With Goff likely set for a big raise this offseason as well, Detroit’s roster complexion changes. That will lead Reynolds, who totaled 608 yards and five touchdown catches, to Colorado, on a slight raise. He played out a two-year, $6MM Lions deal last season.

The Broncos ditched Jeudy’s $12.99MM fifth-year option salary, via trade with the Browns, but still have Courtland Sutton tied to a $13MM 2024 base; the team guaranteed $2MM of that total earlier this month. Unless a Sutton trade happens despite that guarantee vesting, Reynolds will join Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims as complementary Broncos targets. The 6-foot-3 receiver has played an auxiliary role throughout his career, most recently helping a Lions team that had Williams struggle to stay on the field.

Broncos To Sign WR Josh Reynolds

After trotting out mostly the same wide receiver group for the past four seasons, the Broncos moved on from Jerry Jeudy to signal a shift under Sean Payton. They are now adding a key piece to Payton’s second Denver roster.

Josh Reynolds is signing with the Broncos, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who indicates the ex-Lions and Rams wideout agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14MM. The Ravens were also pursuing Reynolds, hosting him on a visit last week, but he will join Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims in Denver.

[RELATED: Broncos Keeping Tim Patrick After Pay Cut]

The former Rams fourth-rounder transitioned from midseason waiver claim — on a Lions team in need of receiving help during Dan Campbell‘s first season — to regular starter. As Detroit made its climb to the NFC North championship and the Super Bowl LVIII precipice, Reynolds operated as a key Amon-Ra St. Brown sidekick — even as Jameson Williams‘ role expanded. Reynolds finished last season with 40 catches for 608 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The Lions did make an attempt to re-sign Reynolds, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Reynolds, 29, playing for Campbell could make a transition to Payton easier when considering the popular Lions HC spent five years as a Saints assistant. This will, however, mark a transition from Jared Goff, Reynolds’ QB for most of his career. The Rams let Reynolds walk after his rookie deal expired, moving on despite the 6-foot-3 target’s career-high 618 receiving yards in 2020. Los Angeles was carrying then-recent extensions for Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods at that point, and Reynolds signed with the Titans. That fit did not take, with the Lions claiming the Texas A&M alum following a November cut.

The Lions used Reynolds as a key St. Brown complement for two-plus seasons, as an injury and a gambling suspension sidetracked Williams’ NFL start. Even with Williams back in action following his six-game 2023 ban, Reynolds maintained a regular role. That said, he did not eclipse 45 receiving yards after Williams returned to action. While operating mostly as a decoy, Reynolds did resurface with an 80-yard showing in the Lions’ wild-card win over the Rams. Reynolds also caught a touchdown pass in the Lions’ second-round win over the Buccaneers, but he dropped a crucial fourth-down pass against the 49ers in the NFC title game.

While the Reynolds contract’s base value is not yet known, this deal qualifies as more than a flier. It stands to crowd Denver’s receiver group, though Reynolds also represents insurance in case Patrick — he of ACL and Achilles tears in consecutive training camps — is unable to recapture his pre-Russell Wilson-era form. Denver keeping Sutton on the roster as of March 18 guaranteed the seventh-year veteran $2MM of his $13MM 2024 base. That would point to Denver’s 2023 receiving leader sticking around, but the Broncos dangled the former second-round pick in trades last year — nearly sending him to Baltimore — before turning to him as Wilson’s top target. Jeudy recently signed a Browns extension, after being dealt for fifth- and sixth-round picks.

It is not known who exactly will be targeting the Broncos’ receivers in 2024, but the team has its group nearly rounded out a month ahead of the draft.

Ravens To Host WR Josh Reynolds

The Ravens continue to seek out options on the veteran wide receiver market. Josh Reynolds will head to Baltimore for a visit tomorrow, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

[RELATED: Michael Gallup To Visit Ravens]

Reynolds began his career with the Rams, operating as a secondary receiving option for much of his first three years in Los Angeles. He took on starting duties in 2020, though, and he posted a career-best 52 catches and 618 yards that year. The former fourth-rounder joined the Titans in free agency off the back of that production, but things did not go according to plan in Nashville.

Playing on a one-year, $1.75MM pact, Reynolds was unable to carve out a role in Tennessee. He asked for and was granted his release, leading to a waiver claim by the Lions in 2021. With Detroit, the 29-year-old found more consistent playing time and earned a two-year, $12MM deal during the subsequent offseason. Reynolds remained a key member of the Lions’ attack over the past two years, totaling 78 catches, 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns in that span.

The Ravens will not have Odell Beckham Jr. in the fold for 2024, and the team is in search of a replacement for his complementary production from last season. Fellow veteran Nelson Agholor was retained earlier in the offseason, and former first-rounders Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are on their respective rookie contracts. With tight end Mark Andrews also in the fold, any WR addition will be joining the Ravens in a bid to serve in a rotational capacity and fill a depth role in the pass-catching pecking order.

Reynolds – who has averaged 13.3 yards per catch in his career – could fit the bill. The Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond in place at the WR spot; the team also signed Tre’Quan Smith to a futures deal in January. Reynolds could thus be on the move for the third time in his career this offseason, and a Baltimore deal would make sense. The Ravens (a team which added offensive lineman Josh Jones earlier today) entered Thursday with just under $14MM in cap space.

Contract Details: Reynolds, Shepard, Martinez

Here’s another detailed look at a deal done this week, as well as some information on some contract restructuring in New York:

  • Josh Reynolds, WR (Lions): Two-year, $6MM. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $2.7MM, including a $1.5MM signing bonus and the full 2022 salary of $1.2MM, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Reynolds can really see a payday in 2023. That year of his deal has a base value of $1.8MM, a $1MM roster bonus activated on the third day of the 2023 league year, and $400,000 for the year in per game active bonuses (around $23,529 per game). The deal also holds $2MM of annual incentives based on catches, yards, and touchdowns as well as an additional $2MM incentive in 2023 based on team achievements, playoffs, and stats.
  • The Giants recently came to agreements with wide receiver Sterling Shepard and linebacker Blake Martinez to restructure their contracts. The Athletic reporter Dan Duggan confirmed on Twitter that both deals are worth roughly $2.25MM in 2022 with incentives that can push the value up to about $5MM. The intention was to lower the two veterans’ cap hits and they will do that, dropping Martinez’s cap number from $14MM to about $8MM and Shepard’s number from $12.4MM to about $6.5MM.

Lions Sign WR Josh Reynolds To Extension

More news continues to come out of the NFC North. The Lions are signing Josh Reynolds to a two-year contract, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Garafolo adds that the deal is worth up to $12MM. That’s quite the pay raise from the one-year, $1.75MM he signed for last offseason with the Titans. There was plenty optimism surrounding the former fourth rounder at that point, as he was coming off a career year (52 catches, 618 yards, two touchdowns) during his final season with the Rams.

Instead, Reynolds only played five games in Nashville, recording just 10 catches. Stuck behind not only A.J. Brown but also fellow offseason acquisition Julio Jones on the depth chart, he asked to be released to find a new home for the rest of the campaign. That request was granted, and he was claimed off waivers by the Lions.

Reunited with quarterback Jared Goff, his play took off. In seven contests, he averaged 16 yards per catch, totalling 306 yards and two touchdowns. On a team lacking pass-catching options besides T.J. Hockenson and breakout rookie WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, the 27-year-old could fill in comfortably as at least least a reliable secondary option.

Garafolo also notes that the Lions were eager to get this deal done before the start of free agency next week. With Reynolds in place, another notable piece of business has been taken care of.