What happens when a player’s potential is overlooked by one team but coveted by another? For Lil’Jordan Humphrey, it means swapping Big Blue for the Mile High City, and his farewell message tells the whole story. The wideout is officially heading back to Denver, closing the door on a brief and winding Giants chapter that never fully settled. As the move became public, Humphrey shared a heartfelt farewell on X, thanking the organization and its fans.

“I would like to take this time to thank everyone within New York Giants organization. @Giants I am incredibly grateful for the chance to grow both as a player and as a person during my time here,” Humphrey admitted on his X account. “The lessons I’ve learned, the relationships I’ve formed, and the experiences I’ve had will undoubtedly stay with me throughout my career. I’ll always look back on my time with the Giants with deep appreciation and respect as I continue my journey.”

Humphrey initially signed a one-year deal with the Giants in March  2025, but was released during the final roster cuts in August. The very next day, the Giants re-signed him to their practice squad, and now, he’s been released from the organization for good.

After being elevated, he started two of those matchups, logging four passes for 55 yards. All of those catches, and eight of his 10 targets, came in the first game he played. In the NFL, any player in the practice squad is free to be signed to another team’s 53-man active roster. After three elevations, the Giants would have to add him to their roster. Instead, the Denver Broncos officially signed him to their active roster on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Ray-Ray McCloud III has also made his way into the Giants’ building, joining their practice squad as a seasoned depth option. The return specialist adds experience to the unit.

In the end, the Giants had little reason to stand in the way of a player earning a full-time roster spot elsewhere. And if you are looking for why Denver moved quickly, the answer may be simple. Sean Payton has always liked Humphrey’s skill set, and now the reunion is back on in Colorado.

Broncos coach thrilled to have Humphrey back

Lil’Jordan Humphrey is expected to contribute as early as Sunday’s crucial game against the Kansas City Chiefs, playing alongside Bo Nix. For Payton, the decision to re-sign the veteran was simple. The coach knows exactly what the wideout brings to the table, emphasizing his brain game above all else. 

 “We know the player really well. One of his strengths is his football I.Q. He can play a lot of different spots, and I think it was — we had that roster availability. So we’ll see how that plays out,” the coach said about the arrival.

Payton originally signed Humphrey as an undrafted free agent out of Texas back in 2019 while coaching the New Orleans Saints. LJH played under Payton for the first three years of his career before reuniting with him in Denver when Payton took the head coaching job in 2023.

During his previous two-year stint with the Broncos, Humphrey was more than just a depth player. He suited up for 34 games. In that span, the veteran receiver proved dependable, hauling in 44 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns.

Ironically, the Broncos tried to keep Humphrey during free agency this spring, but he chose to head to the Giants in March. Just eight months later, that brief detour is over, and he’s back in the familiar territory of Coach Payton’s offense, likely adding needed depth and versatility as the team heads into an important stretch.