Bandy spent last season on the Broncos’ practice squad after playing in one game for Denver in 2023.
Michael Bandy has yet to find his NFL footing.
Starting with the Los Angeles Chargers and now the Denver Broncos, the fourth-year receiver has spent the crux of his career on the practice squad. That’s been the case for all but one game in Denver. Bandy’s one game with the Broncos came in 2023. The reason for the discrepancy in years of his career is that he spent all of last season on the practice squad and didn’t play in a game.
Now, Bandy will look to make the jump to Denver’s 53-man roster in a position that didn’t see additions through NFL free agency but through the NFL Draft.
Is this the season Bandy lands in the regular rotation?
Player Profile
Age: 27 | Experience: Third year | College: San Diego | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 190 pounds
Michael Bandy’s 2025 outlook with the Broncos
Bandy has appeared in 12 regular season games (two starts) in his NFL career. He has 12 catches for 89 yards and four kick returns for 88 yards. Bandy also appeared in one playoff game with the Chargers, returning three kicks for 51 yards.
To make his way off the Broncos’ practice squad and into the regular rotation at receiver, Bandy will have to flash in training camp and the preseason. That’s a tall ask with the guys in front of him on the roster.
The Broncos currently have five receivers who could contribute on offense: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., DeVaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, and rookie Pat Bryant.
That leaves one spot since Sean Payton and the rest of the NFL usually carry six wideouts on the roster. Bandy joins a list of Trent Sherfield Sr., A.T. Perry, and undrafted free agents Joaquin Davis, Courtney Jackson, and Kyrese White. As Christopher Hart noted in his receiver positional review, given Sherfield’s experience in the league and being a quality special-teams player, he is the presumptive sixth receiver for the squad.
Given Mims is one of the best returners in the NFL, Bandy’s outlook to crack the regular rotation at receiver or the roster isn’t great.
Final thoughts
Stranger things have happened, and anything is possible, but Bandy is likely to continue his NFL career, at least in Denver, on the practice squad.
The depth at receiver and the talent of guys above him on special teams leave him very little opening. If Bandy is able to make a 53-man roster in the NFL, it’ll be if he’s signed off the Broncos’ practice squad and does so on another roster.