ENGLEWOOD – Quarterback Sam Ehlinger recently talked about much he loves being with the Broncos and that became even more apparent Wednesday.

Ehlinger, released Tuesday by the Broncos, signed to their practice squad to be the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and backup Jarrett Stidham. A source said Ehlinger turned down two teams to be the third-stringer on a 53-man roster, calling those teams “both good spots and contenders.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton had made it clear Tuesday he wanted Ehlinger to be back on the practice squad. He did not have to go through waivers due to being a vested veteran.

“I love it,’’ Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin said about Ehlinger’s decision to stay in Denver, which could result in $774,000 less salary in 2025. “It just shows how the locker room is. We love Sam. So it’s great to have Sam.’’

The Broncos completed their 16-man practice squad in time for the team’s afternoon practice Wednesday at Broncos Park. Other notable players on it are fullback Adam Prentice, linebacker Levelle Bailey and guard Calvin Throckmorton, who were all also let go Tuesday. Prentice and Throckmorton, as vested veterans, did not go through waivers. Bailey, a surprise cut, was not claimed on waivers.

The Broncos did not pick up any players off waivers. They had two players they let go claimed in cornerback Damarri Mathis by Carolina and offensive lineman Xavier Truss by New Orleans.

Running back Audric Estime, waived by the Broncos, joined Philadelphia’s practice squad after he did not want to be on Denver’s squad.

Others signed to Denver’s practice squad Wednesday were safety tight end Caleb Lohner, safeties Delarrin Turner-Yell and Keidron Smith, linebackers Garret Wallow and Jordan Turner, defensive lineman Jordan Miller, offensive lineman Joe Michalski, cornerbacks Reese Taylor, Quinton Newsome and Jaden Robinson and wide receivers A.T. Perry and Michael Bandy. All cleared waivers at 10 a.m. except Wallow, who is a vested veteran. All but Taylor, nursing a hamstring injury, took part in the practice.

Lohner was waived Tuesday after being selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft last April. He is very raw after playing five years of basketball in college but only one year of football.

Prentice, who played at Colorado State and South Carolina, is in line to be Denver’s fullback to start the season due to Michael Burton, Denver’s fullback the past two seasons, being placed Tuesday on season-ending injured reserve following hamstring surgery. Players on the practice squad are allowed to be elevated for up to three games during the season for each team they are on.

Bailey will provide depth at linebacker after being on the 53-man roster most of last season as a rookie. He was waived when the Broncos decided instead to keep undrafted rookie inside linebacker Karene Reid on the active roster.

Throckmorton will provide depth on the offensive line. He spent last season on Denver’s practice squad.

Among other players who had been let go by Denver who went to other practice squads were safety Sam Franklin to Buffalo, offensive lineman Clay Webb to Tennessee and wide receiver Courtney Jackson to Seattle. A source said the plan with Franklin, who had signed with the Broncos a $1.17 million guaranteed salary for 2025 that will offset, is to elevate the special teams ace for the Bills’ first three games and then sign him to the 53-man roster. Jackson had wanted to sign with Denver’s squad but chose the Seahawks after not getting an immediate offer.

Among the former Denver players claimed off waivers, Truss had gone against the Saints in Denver’s 29-18 win last Saturday in the preseason finale. And the Panthers absorbed Mathis’ 2025 salary of $3.406 million.

“I’m excited for it,’’ Broncos cornerback Riley Moss said of Mathis back on a 53-man roster after spending the past three years with Denver. “I love him. He moves around great. He’s a good football player. I’m excited to see what he does.”

Meanwhile, the Broncos were really excited about the return of Ehlinger, who could have earned a minimum salary of $1.17 million as the No. 3 quarterback on a 53-man roster. The maximum practice squad salary is $22,000 per week, which is $396,000 for the season. So Ehlinger potentially gave up $774,000.

In the win over the Saints, Ehlinger completed 22 of 31 passes for 198 yards with one touchdown and one interception. After the game, he called Denver’s Davis Webb “one of the best quarterback coaches in the league” and talked about how much he has enjoyed being on the Broncos since signing with them last April.

“I love being here and I love this quarterback room, and I love this team,” he said. “I am excited for the direction this organization is headed.”

Now he remains a part of where the Broncos are heading.