Sean Payton Calls His Own Reverse 'Awful' After Jaylen Waddle Leaves Broncos' Win With a Chest Injury

The Broncos beat the Cardinals 30-16 on Sunday for their third straight win, but the play everyone was talking about afterward was one Sean Payton wants back. Jaylen Waddle left in the fourth quarter with a chest injury after a reverse went wrong, and he did not return (via NBC Sports and CBS Sports).

What happened

Denver led by 14 with under five minutes left. Instead of staying with the run game that had been working, Payton called a reverse. Bo Nix flipped the ball to Waddle in the backfield, Waddle couldn't handle the pitch, and Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat hit him hard as he fell on the ball. Denver kept possession, but Waddle stayed down and trainers helped him to the locker room. The Broncos confirmed the chest injury shortly before the game ended, per Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post (via CBS Sports and DenverSports.com).

Payton on the call

Nobody asked Payton about the play, so he brought it up himself at the end of his postgame news conference. "Why didn't anybody ask me about the dumb reverse call?" he said. "That would be one of the first calls." Then he answered his own question: "It was awful."

He pointed to his Saints days as the lesson he should have remembered. "If you look it up in 2008, in a similar situation, even a more radical reverse. Fumbled, Tampa Bay beat us," Payton said. "I know better. And every once in a while, you fall in love with a play" (via DenverSports.com).

Where Waddle stands

Waddle came into the week banged up. A chest injury limited him in practice Wednesday and Thursday before he practiced fully Friday and was cleared to play (via NBC Sports). He also briefly left the Week 6 win over Seattle with a shoulder injury before returning. He finished Sunday with four catches for 48 yards on seven targets. Payton didn't give a detailed update, and there has been no diagnosis yet. His status for next week's home game against the Chiefs is open.

Zach Allen also left late with a hamstring injury. He stayed on the sideline and told reporters afterward he'll "be fine" (via NBC Sports).

Our Take: Payton owning the call right away is the right look, but it doesn't change the stakes. Denver is 5-2 with Kansas City coming to town, and the Broncos need their No. 1 receiver. Until the team gives an update, all anyone can do is wait.

Sources: NBC Sports / PFT, CBS Sports / RotoWire, DenverSports.com, NBC Sports (Zach Allen), NBC Sports (practice report)