GLENDALE, Ariz — The Denver Broncos secured a 30-16 victory over Arizona, but the win was accompanied by self-criticism from head coach Sean Payton and an injury to a key offensive player. Five minutes into his postgame news conference, Payton brought up his own "dumb reverse call," expressing surprise that no one had questioned it.
The play in question occurred with 4:51 left in regulation, with Denver holding a two-touchdown lead. Payton, who had felt he and his offensive staff crafted a strong game plan against Arizona’s zone-blitzing defense, called a reverse for top wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The ball was fumbled, though Waddle ultimately fell on it, preventing a turnover. However, the play resulted in an 11-yard loss for the Broncos.
More critically, Waddle was injured on the play. When he rolled over after recovering the ball, Waddle grabbed his left chest and shoulder area with his right hand and remained on the ground until trainers attended to him. The team later identified the injury as a chest issue. Following an evaluation in the medical tent, Waddle left the game and proceeded to the locker room. The immediate severity of the injury was not disclosed, and Payton did not provide an update.
Prior to the injury, Waddle had contributed four catches for 48 yards in the game. Leading up to the matchup, Waddle had been limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a chest injury but was a full participant on Friday and cleared to play against the Cardinals. He had also sustained an ankle injury earlier in the season but had played in all seven games for the Broncos. Through seven games, Waddle has recorded 276 yards and a touchdown, putting him on pace for a career-low 670 yards for the season. The Broncos acquired Waddle in March through a trade involving a first-round pick and other assets.
Payton drew a historical parallel to his decision, recalling a similar, more radical reverse call in 2008 that resulted in a fumble and a loss to Tampa Bay. He acknowledged, "I know better. Every once in a while you fall in love with a play."
In addition to Waddle’s injury, All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen left the game late with a right hamstring issue. However, Allen expressed confidence about his condition, stating flatly after the game, "I’ll be fine." Allen, a former Cardinal, appeared at the podium after the game, a platform not typically used by players who have sustained injuries during a game. He finished a play on Arizona’s final drive before grabbing his right hamstring and sitting down. Trainers checked on him, and he walked off gingerly on his own, watching the final plays from the sideline with his helmet off, without needing to enter the medical tent.
Star cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) did not participate in Denver’s win over the Cardinals. His absence was anticipated after he was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. Surtain, who was first injured against San Francisco in early October, is being targeted for a return in Week 8, which is the upcoming game against Kansas City. He traveled with the team to the desert and observed the game from the sideline in street clothes.
On the defensive front, second-year defensive lineman Sai’Vion Jones recorded his first career sack. Jones, a 2025 third-round pick, has primarily focused on run downs and "dirty work" roles. His sack of Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett early in the fourth quarter provided a boost to the Broncos' defense, especially after a 27-yard completion to tight end Trey McBride, who finished with 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Following Jones’ sack, Denver’s defense forced a turnover on downs.
