NEW ORLEANS >> The Broncos got reinforcements for their Thursday night game against the Saints.

They activated right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee), outside linebacker Baron Browning (foot) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) off of injured reserve, returning a trio of players with extensive experience.

McGlinchey and Browning each spent the minimum of four weeks on injured reserve, while Mathis has been on since the roster cutdown deadline in August.

McGlinchey, not surprisingly, jumped right back into the starting lineup. That was particularly important with Alex Palczewski inactive for a second straight game due to an ankle injury.

Browning first entered the game early in the second quarter playing in rotation with Jonah Elliss. OLBs Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper started.

Denver had two roster spots available and also on Thursday waived rookie running back Blake Watson, the team announced. The Broncos would like to sign Watson, who made the initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, back to the practice squad if he clears waivers Friday. In another of the team’s flurry of transactions, it also officially signed safety Tanner McCalister back to the practice squad.

Elevations >> The Broncos elevated inside linebacker Kwon Alexander and offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton from the practice squad for Thursday night’s game. Both previously played for the Saints and each provides veteran experience. It’s the second straight game Throckmorton has been elevated since center Luke Wattenberg was placed on injured reserve. It’s the first time for Alexander, who was signed to the practice squad Week 4 after Alex Singleton’s season-ending knee injury.

Inactives >> In addition to Palczewski and CB Pat Surtain II (concussion), who were ruled out Wednesday, the Broncos had a normal set of inactives. They were: TE Greg Dulcich, DL Eyioma Uwazurike, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, OLB Dondrea Tillman and QB Zach Wilson.

HOF update >> A trio of former Broncos coaches are among the 12 remaining contenders for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves and Alex Gibbs are each among the former coaches who made the Hall’s latest cutdown. The list will be further reduced to nine in the coming weeks and eventually one coaching candidate will be put forward to the selection committee for consideration.

Shanahan, of course, won back-to-back Super Bowls with Denver and is the winningest coach in franchise history. He was the head coach from 1995-2008 and finished his tenure in Denver with a 138-86 regular-season mark.

Reeves coached the Broncos from 1981-92 and made three Super Bowl appearances in that span. The late Gibbs helped Shanahan architect the Broncos’ run game and served as the team’s offensive line coach for multiple stints — 1984-87 and then 1995-2003.