Karene Reid earned a spot on Denver's 53-man roster as the latest undrafted free agent to crack the active squad, extending a Broncos tradition of UDFA selections for 21 of the last 22 years. Reid’s preseason numbers—five solo tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a pass deflection—caught the eye of Sean Payton, who labeled Reid a draftable player. He projects as a potential middle-linebacker option and a key special-teams contributor should injuries strike the linebacking corps.

Reid’s rise came as Levelle Bailey and Jordan Turner were released, opening a path for him while continuing Denver’s UDFA pipeline. The Broncos had three UDFA on the initial roster in 2024—Levelle Bailey, Frank Crum, and Blake Watson—with Crum returning to the roster in 2025. If Alex Singleton or Dre Greenlaw miss time, Reid would be next man up in the middle, underscoring Denver’s ongoing trust in undrafted talent to fill depth roles and bolster overall roster versatility.