By Jordan Long
By Jordan Long
The Denver Broncos open training camp Tuesday. Their first preseason game is on August 13 when they face the Dallas Cowboys. There is one player who definitely needs to shine this year, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The Denver Broncos selected Jeudy 15th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Experts saw Jeudy as one of the best route receivers in the 2020 draft class.
This has yet to happen. In his first season, Jeudy showed flashes of why the Broncos picked him, totaling 856 yards and 3 touchdowns. His average yards per catch was an impressive 16.5 yards, a taste of what he could do in the NFL. Last season, it was expected those numbers would improve. The goal was to have 1,000 yards receiving for Jeudy.
In 2021, Jeudy’s numbers dropped. He had 467 yards receiving and didn’t have a touchdown. Jeudy was hurt in week 1 against the New York Giants, suffering a high ankle sprain which forced him out of action for 7 games.
The expectations this season are high for Jeudy, especially with new quarterback Russell Wilson. Jeudy will be the wide receiver lined opposite of Courtland Sutton. It is up to Jeudy to run a route to be open. Wilson ought to find him early and often. Jeudy should have chances to catch the football and make plays. He is one of the fastest receivers on the Broncos roster. If he can play at the level he did in his rookie year, Jeudy’s play should take the pressure off of Sutton and other wide receivers on the team.
The Broncos want to be a playoff team this year. The way that happens is if the offense is clicking. Jeudy wants to play a large role on the offense. If Jeudy starts dropping the football, Wilson won’t throw the football his way. Instead, Wilson will toss the ball to Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton, and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. This takes targets away from Jeudy. Jeudy needs to step up his game. Hopefully, for the Broncos Jeudy goes over the 1,000 yard mark this year which will go a long way for the Broncos as they look to improve on their 7-10 record from last year.
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