Sam Ehlinger is back on the Broncos’ active roster.

The Broncos on Monday signed the quarterback off their practice squad to the 53-man roster. They also waived tight end Marcedes Lewis and offensive tackle Geron Christian. Both are candidates for the practice squad if they clear waivers Tuesday.

Ehlinger has gone up and down this season between the active roster and the practice squad. He had remained loyal to the Broncos when on the practice squad, turning down multiple chances to join a 53-man roster on another team.

Ehlinger, Denver’s third-string quarterback, was elevated for two games this season but was not made active in order to get him a bigger weekly check. He told The Denver Gazette last Friday the Broncos had “talked about some things for the playoffs, so we’ll see how it shakes.” Signing him to the active roster then was in the mix for the Broncos, who on Sunday clinched the No. 1 AFC seed with a 19-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Denver will open the playoffs Jan. 17 or 18 at home.

By having Ehlinger on the active roster in the playoffs, he can be an emergency quarterback when made inactive. So he could be available if both starter Bo Nix and backup Jarrett Stidham were to get hurt.

The Broncos now have one opening on their 53-man roster. It could be filled Tuesday by the activation of rookie linebacker Karene Reid off injured reserve.

Reid was designated for return Dec. 17 after missing the required four games while on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and Tuesday is the deadline on his 21-day window to either be activated or shelved for the season. Although Reid has not been activated for any of the last three possible games, he has been a full participant in practices.

After being initially signed to the practice squad Oct. 29, Lewis, 41, has had two stints on the 53-man roster and he got into four games during the season. Lewis didn’t catch a pass, denying him a chance to become the second NFL player after Jerry Rice to have a reception in 20 different seasons.

Christian was signed Nov. 11 off Dallas’ practice squad. He was inactive for every game after that for Denver.

The Broncos have two openings on their practice squad.

No bonus for Trautman

Broncos tight end Adam Trautman needed five catches Sunday to reach 25 for the season and get a $125,000 contract bonus. But he didn’t get a single target.

“Obviously, everybody wants their incentives, but I’d also rather have the (No. 1) seed,” he said.

Broncos coach Sean Payton ribbed Trautman both before and after Sunday’s game, saying that five catches is usually a season output for the tight end, in his sixth year. Trautman, whose career high is 27 receptions, said that “is just not correct” but that Payton “loves messing with me.”

Briefly

Bo Nix, with 612, became the first Broncos quarterback to lead the NFL in passing attempts since Peyton Manning had 659 in 2013. That was the last time a Denver quarterback had 600 or more attempts in a season. … Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. led the NFL with 452 punt return yards while finishing third with a 15.6 average. He had led the NFL with a 15.7 average in 2024. … Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was fifth in the NFL with 14 sacks, his career high.