Adam “Pacman” Jones is injured — with a sore hamstring/quadreceps — meaning the Denver Broncos punt return duties are left up in the air.
It’s raining steadily in Baltimore currently, where the 2-0 Broncos face the 1-1 Baltimore Ravens this morning (11 a.m. MST kickoff), and the poor weather mixed with a backup return man could spell trouble for Denver.
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Jones was signed late in the offseason to be a nickel cornerback as well as the team’s main punt returner, leaving Isiah McKenzie to the practice squad. So, with Jones out, who handles the Broncos punt return responsibilities today?
It could be Phillip Lindsay, the incredibly exciting undrafted rookie who runs like wild. Lindsay is listed as the leading kickoff returner, and the backup punt returner on the Broncos official depth chart on denverbroncos.com. It would be the first time Lindsay has returned punts in the NFL, and while he had 45 kickoff returns in college with Colorado, he never received a punt at the collegiate level, either.
If it’s not Lindsay, Denver could possibly put Emmanuel Sanders back there to catch punts. During his time with the Broncos, Sanders has returned 20 punts for 112 total yards. Or, it could be fellow rookie DaeSean Hamilton.
Like with Lindsay, Hamilton has never returned a punt in college or in the NFL; that leaves the punt return game as a major question mark going into today’s contest.
With two good teams going toe-to-toe, games like these could be decided on special teams. Especially when there’s inclement weather involved, like steady rain.
If Denver’s lack of experience in the punt return department turns into turnovers for Baltimore, it could end up costing the Broncos a needed win on the road.
In the coverage department, it means a promotion for fellow rookie Isaac Yiadom as well. He’ll be the Broncos nickel corner in today’s game.