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Broncos WR Devaughn Vele Dealing With an Injury: What We Know​


Originally posted on Denver Broncos on SI
By Chad Jensen | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 2:12 PM ET


Devaughn Vele was one of the hot topics of the Denver Broncos' offseason training program. The second-year receiver showcased that he'd worked hard during the offseason, on his own, and when the voluntary minicamps rolled around, it was clear that he'd separated from some of the Broncos' other wideouts.
As one of the big 'risers' of OTAs, Vele's absence from the Broncos' mandatory minicamp last week triggered concerns and questions. Even head coach Sean Payton, who loathes to discuss injuries publicly, seemed triggered, snapping at a reporter over a question about Vele's absence, while trying to play down the seriousness of the situation.
“No. He’s going to be full-go start of training camp," Payton said last Thursday. "Everything is good.”
Payton said that, "outside" of wide receiver A.T. Perry, the Broncos expect to have everyone healthy and ready to roll to start training camp. So what do we know about Vele's absence?
You get the most flak when you're over the target; Payton's blow-up at the podium must have been due to the sensitivity of the situation, because 9NEWS' Mike Klis reported that Vele is, in fact, dealing with a leg injury.
With how good he's looked this offseason, the only thing that could hold Vele back from taking the next step in Year 2 is the injury bug. He missed four games last season, dealing with a painful rib injury.

With how good Bo Nix has looked this spring and summer, as well as the talent around Vele on the wide receiver depth chart, the Broncos' passing attack is poised to reach another level this season. Nix passed for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns last season — an impressive rookie body of work — but Denver's passing game actually finished at No. 20 in the NFL.
The Broncos did enter the top 10 in scoring, though, which is another omen that the times have changed with Nix at the helm. However, he'll need his supporting cast to develop around him in kind.
Payton says there's no reason to expect Vele's injury to keep him out of training camp. Meanwhile, Vele wasn't the only Broncos wideout to have himself a nice offseason, with the likes of Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. generating media buzz and praise from Payton.

Rookie wideout Pat Bryant also looked very good this spring, and he may factor into the Broncos offense much sooner than expected. The arrival of free-agent tight end Evan Engram is another feather in Nix's cap.
Vele will return. A 2024 seventh-round pick out of Utah, he's an older second-year guy at 27 years old. That means he's got to make hay while the sun is shining, which explains why he may have worked so hard on his own this offseason.
For example, new Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has been in the NFL since 2020. He's only 26 years old. Different positions, yes, but it puts Vele's relative age into context as a second-year player.
That was a big reason Vele was still available in the seventh round of last year's draft. He was an older rookie, which means he couldn't afford to waste any time in his development.
 

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The development of quarterback Bo Nix was one of the biggest storylines of Denver Broncos minicamp in 2025, there's no question about it. However, it wasn't Bo Nix who played a significant (and direct) role in one of the biggest storylines to come out of OTAs and minicamp.

The Broncos made huge waves across the NFL landscape when they brought in veteran running back JK Dobbins on a free agent visit that spanned multiple days. Dobbins figures to be a factor atop the team's depth chart at running back, and he noted in his first media availability that familiarity with a number of faces on the team played a role in his decision to sign with Denver.

Outside of former Ravens or Ohio State teammates in Denver (Ben Powers, Jonathon Cooper), Dobbins noted he had a special relationship with the Broncos' third-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger dating back to their time in high school.

JK Dobbins and Sam Ehlinger were "best friends" before Broncos reunion​

"Sam Ehlinger, he was like -- before we left for college, high school, we were best friends, you know? Same with B-Jones (Brandon Jones). It's a bunch of guys on the team that I just was like, similar faces. It's like home here already."

- JK Dobbins

Dobbins went on to note that all of Jonathon Cooper, Brandon Jones, and Ehlinger helped recruit him to the Broncos.

We obviously didn't hear much about Ehlinger's progress in his first offseason program with the Broncos, but one of the most decorated QBs in Texas football history has played his part in helping the team get better, one way or another. Ehlinger ranks second all-time in Texas history behind Colt McCoy in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and is second behind Vince Young with 33 rushing touchdowns.

Ehlinger has been a valuable piece of the Colts' quarterback room the past handful of seasons as a backup and practice player, and perhaps his ability to crack the roster has been understated to this point.


Last year, it was the trio of Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Za
 

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The arrival of free-agent tight end Evan Engram is another feather in Nix's cap. Vele will return. A 2024 seventh-round pick out of Utah, he's an older second-year guy at 27 years old. That means he's got to make hay while the sun is shining, which explains why he may have worked so hard on his own this offseason. For example, new Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has been in the NFL since 2020. He's only 26 years old. Different positions, yes, but it puts Vele's relative age into context as a second-year player.That was a big reason Vele was still available in the seventh round of last year's draft. He was an older rookie, which means he couldn't afford to waste any time in his development.​


This whole last section of the article is weird. First, that "feather in his cap" idiom does not make any sense - I don't think the author knows what it means. Perhaps he meant "another arrow in Nix's quiver" but that's a reach. Then the author spends the next eight sentences saying the exact same thing. Weak sauce.
 
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