Broncos place RB Blake Watson on non-football injury list

The Denver Broncos placed undrafted rookie running back Blake Watson on the non-football injury list on Wednesday, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Watson’s injury is not yet known.

As the name suggests, the NFI list is for players who suffer an injury away from the team’s facility unrelated to a game, practice or team workout. Watson still counts against the 90-man offseason roster and he can return from the NFI list once he’s ready to practice again.

Watson was also picked by the Memphis Showboats in the second round of the UFL draft on Wednesday. He will remain with the Broncos, but if Watson is off Denver’s roster next spring, the Showboats will have first dibs among UFL teams.

Watson isn’t the team’s only rookie running back dealing with an injury. Broncos coach Sean Payton revealed in May that fifth-round draft pick Audric Estime had a minor knee procedure in the spring.

Payton estimated that Estime would be recovered in time for training camp. We’ll find out if Estime is ready to go when Denver begins training camp practices next Friday.