Broncos Bring Sean Fresch Jr. Back to Practice Squad After Henley Trade Falls Through

The Denver Broncos signed cornerback Sean Fresch Jr. back to their practice squad Friday, three days after waiving him from the active roster in a corresponding move for the proposed Daiyan Henley trade.

Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reported that the signing was official on the transaction wire and that Denver still had an opening on its 53-man roster. The return keeps Fresch with the organization after a week in which he went from the practice squad to the active roster, then onto waivers.

Denver promoted Fresch to the active roster on Nov. 7 ahead of its game at Carolina. The Broncos had already brought him up from the practice squad three times in October, for games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.

The Broncos waived Fresch on Tuesday when they announced an agreement to acquire Henley from the Chargers. Denver had agreed to send Los Angeles a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, with the deal pending a physical. The Broncos also released defensive back Ugo Amadi from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

Denver said Wednesday that the proposed trade would not be finalized. The team’s statement gave no reason. Fresch’s Friday signing was a separate transaction that put him back in Denver’s defensive back group without filling the active-roster spot his waiver had opened.

Fresch first joined Denver in June after two seasons in the United Football League. In 13 UFL games, he recorded 43 tackles, two sacks and five passes defensed, according to the Broncos’ announcement at the time. He also averaged 10.5 yards per punt return and 21.8 yards per kickoff return. He signed with Denver’s practice squad in August after clearing waivers at the end of camp.

The Broncos enter their Week 10 bye at 7–2 after a 26–21 win over the Panthers. They return to play Nov. 22 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High, according to Denver’s schedule.

That gives Denver a week without a game to decide how to use the open spot. If the Broncos want another cornerback on the active roster, Fresch is still in the building and already knows what Denver asked of him when it brought him up earlier this season.