DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 22: Theo Riddick #25 of the Detroit Lions pushes off on the face mask of Danny Trevathan #59 of the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Ford Field on November 22, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos are getting ready to make their final roster cuts, and Theo Riddick is a candidate to be an IR/return player.

When the Denver Broncos put their initial 53-man roster together, expect Theo Riddick to be on it.

But not for long.

On the final preseason broadcast of 2019, both Mike Klis of 9News in Denver and Broncos team president and GM John Elway said that Riddick is a candidate for injured reserve.

The thing is, the Broncos want Riddick to contribute this year.

Thanks to the new rules of putting guys on injured reserve and bringing them back, the Broncos do not have to pre-designate Riddick — or anyone else — as a player who will return later.

If the Broncos opt to place Riddick on injured reserve after he makes the initial 53-man roster, he will be required to sit out for eight games but can practice after six.

Riddick injured his shoulder in the Broncos’ preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos had high hopes that Riddick could come in and be a pass catching specialist for them. He may end up being that, but it also might only be for eight games if he can recover quickly.

One thing is certain, and that’s the fact that Riddick seems destined for injured reserve. When John Elway says it, it’s happening.

Who takes Riddick’s spot on the active roster when he goes to IR?

The obvious choice would be fourth-year player Devontae Booker, but Booker has been out-played this preseason in just about every way by Khalfani Muhammad.

Muhammad, when he’s been healthy, has been really good at just about everything. He has shown he can run between the tackles, catch passes, pass protect, and return kicks.

At this point, with what Muhammad has on tape, there’s no chance any smart team out there in the league is going to let him slip through waivers.

In my mind, the Broncos can’t afford to let him go. If they do, they’re losing a potentially valuable weapon.

On the one hand, Muhammad is a third-string or fourth-string back. On the other hand, he’s got dynamic speed and could help in the return game. He could also give the Broncos an element of speed at the running back position they simply don’t have if Lindsay is on the sideline.

We’ll see what the Broncos end up doing at the running back spot, but it’s clear at this point that Muhammad has put enough on tape that he’s probably not getting to the practice squad.

Now it’s time to make the numbers game work, and Denver will be without Theo Riddick for the time being.