Through the first five games of the Denver Broncos’ season, fourth-round rookie Que Robinson has been a healthy scratch weekly. But the former Alabama linebacker could be in line to make his NFL debut on Sunday, when the Broncos play the New York Jets in London.
Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said on Thursday that Robinson could be active on Sunday if outside linebacker Jonah Elliss can’t play.
On Friday, Denver ruled out Elliss for the Sunday contest after he could not practice this week because of rib and shoulder injuries.
“We’ll see,’’ Joseph said after practice on Thursday about Robinson playing. “Que’s had great weeks of practice. He’s ready to go. We’ll see how the roster shapes up and if Jonah is really out. But Que’s ready. If he has go in and play for us, he’s got traits that we like. He’s practiced well. He can play (special) teams.
“I’m excited if he gets a chance to play.”
Denver selected Robinson with the 134th pick in the NFL Draft on April 26. He’s among the 11 players taken within the first 134 picks who have not played in the regular season in 2025.
The Broncos chose Robinson even though they were well-stocked at outside linebacker. Nik Bonitto leads the NFL with seven sacks in 2025 after recording 13.5 and earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2024. Jonathon Cooper recorded 10.5 sacks for Denver last season.
In 2025, Cooper has played 65 percent and Bonitto 61 percent of the Broncos’ 323 defensive snaps. Behind the starters, Elliss played 39 percent and Dondrea Tillman 36 percent of Denver’s defensive snaps in five games.
Elliss also was on the field for 117 special-teams plays, the most on the team.
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Robinson sustained an elbow injury in Alabama’s 42-13 victory over LSU on Nov. 9, and he missed the final four games of the Crimson Tide’s 2024 season. That season was Robinson’s only one with the Crimson Tide as a regular defensive starter, but he was a special-teams contributor throughout his four seasons at Aalbama.
Robinson played in Denver’s three preseason games. He recorded six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble on defense and made two tackles on special teams.
But while Robinson made the 53-man active roster coming out of the preseason, he’s been declared a game-day inactive weekly during the regular season.
The Broncos and Jets will square off at 8:30 a.m. CDT Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. NFL Network will televise the game.
Before Alabama and the Broncos, Robinson was a prep standout at Jackson-Olin in Birmingham. He earned selection for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl even though an injury affected his senior season in 2019.
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