Marvin Mims Jr. returns in Broncos’ preseason opener, nursing a bruised foot after an early series

Marvin Mims Jr. got his first taste of the Broncos’ preseason this summer, taking the field for what was expected to be a high-leverage look at the start of game action. According to Yahoo Sports, Mims went down with an apparent lower-body injury after the opening series, remaining on the field briefly while in pain before jogging off.

The injury came in the same role that has defined Mims as a roster asset in recent seasons. Denver lists him as both a wide receiver and a kick returner, and the team’s game planning typically treats that combination as a way to create speed from scrimmage and at special teams. In the preseason setting, that kind of role is also often used to evaluate whether a player can handle live-game timing, traffic, and the physical demands that do not fully appear in practice.

Yahoo Sports reported that the bruised foot situation is being framed as something Mims is likely to be fine dealing with, even though the night itself ended early. The distinction matters because preseason injuries can range from minor knocks that flare up in the moment to issues that linger and alter a player’s availability for the remainder of the exhibition slate and potentially beyond.

From a roster and preparation standpoint, an early stoppage can change how coaches distribute reps. When a player with kick-return responsibilities exits after limited action, the staff may have to shuffle who fields returns during the rest of the game, and it can also affect how much live work other wide receivers and return candidates get, since coaches often try to balance evaluation with keeping starters healthy.

The Broncos now face a short-term question of day-to-day monitoring. A bruised foot, as described in the reporting, usually points to a need for continued assessment rather than an immediate long-term conclusion. Even if Mims is expected to be okay, his status will likely determine how aggressively the team uses him in subsequent preseason practices and games, especially in any sequence that would otherwise be reserved for his return duties or deeper-downfield wide receiver snaps.

For fans tracking the team’s preseason arcs, the next checkpoint is not just whether Mims returns to practice quickly, but whether he is able to perform the two things he is tied to most: accelerating through return lanes and running routes with the same explosiveness that makes him a big-play threat. His availability could also influence how Denver prioritizes other wide receiver candidates and how it designs special teams reps in the final preseason stretch.