Broncos WR Josh Reynolds won’t play Monday night vs. Browns, final decision on activation from IR to come Tuesday

The Broncos are pushing their decision on wide receiver Josh Reynolds to the final day.

Denver on Monday downgraded Reynolds (finger) to out, meaning the team will not activate him for Monday night’s game against Cleveland, sources told The Denver Post on Monday afternoon.

Reynolds has been on injured reserve since October after he sustained a hand injury that required surgery during the Broncos’ Week 5 win over Las Vegas. After that injury, Reynolds was also shot twice during an incident in which he and two others were in a vehicle that was shot at dozens of times after being followed leaving a strip club on Oct. 18, according to an arrest affidavit.

Reynolds has practiced in the lead-up to each of the Broncos’ past three games. The final day of his 21-day return-to-play window is Tuesday, meaning the team either must activate him back to the 53-man roster or have him revert to injured reserve. If he reverts to IR, his season will be over.

Reynolds was Denver’s No. 2 receiver behind Courtland Sutton before injuring his hand. He had 12 catches for 183 yards and the touchdown against the Raiders and showed down-the-field ability.

Since he’s been out, the Broncos have seen rookie Devaughn Vele rise to essentially the No. 2 option behind Sutton. Sutton, meanwhile, has been on fire the past five weeks. He enters Monday night’s game against the Browns with 744 yards and five touchdowns and has averaged 93.4 receiving yards per game over the Broncos’ past five.

The only other player ruled out Monday night for Denver is cornerback Riley Moss (knee).

This story will be updated. 

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