The Broncos hosted safety Taylor Rapp for a workout on Friday, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, a sign he may be nearing a return to the field after stepping away from the team in August.
Rapp, 28, first signed in Denver on August 20, but he was released less than a week later so he could address a personal matter. Head coach Sean Payton left the door wide open to a reunion if and when Rapp was available. Since he signed so late in camp, he will likely need a multi-week ramp-up on the practice squad. The Broncos would have to clear a spot in order to bring him back.
Originally a Rams second-round pick in 2022, Rapp has appeared in 93 games (72 starts) in his seven-year career. He was most productive in Los Angeles, recording 330 tackles (eight for loss), nine interceptions, and 23 passes defended across his first four NFL seasons. But the safety position was relatively devalued at the time, and Rapp eventually signed a bargain-bin deal with the Bills to be their No. 3 behind Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. He took over a starting job after Hyde’s retirement in 2024 with a career-low 2.4% missed tackle rate but distinct struggles in coverage. He took another step back in 2025 with his missed tackle rate boomeranging to a career-high 21.2% before going down in Week 6 with a season-ending knee injury.
The Broncos are returning starting safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, but P.J.Locke’s snaps as the third safety will need to be replaced after his departure in free agency. Devon Key performed well while Locke was injured last year, and his first-team All-Pro nod on special teams may have earned him more defensive playing time as well. 2023 sixth-round pike JL Skinner and former Bengal Tycen Anderson are also on the roster, though both have primarily featured on special teams in their careers.
Rapp has more experience than Key, Skinner, and Anderson combined. Once he is up to speed physically and mentally in Vance Joseph’s scheme, he could quickly take on the third safety role. Locke split his snaps between lining up at free safety and in the box last year, which aligns neatly with Rapp’s career experience – 2,268 snaps at free safety, 1,606 in the box, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
