Gritty. Gutty. Demaryius Thomas’s Sunday night performance on the football field at Sports Authority Field at Mile High were both, and more.
At times with what appeared to be only a single fully healthy leg, Thomas put together an impressive 10-reception, 133-yard performance against the New York Giants; becoming the seventh active player to reach the 8,000-yard career receiving mark on Sunday night.
From flying high over multiple cornerbacks to what seemingly felt like one-legged slant routes, Thomas played through adversity, shaking off his pain, bearing down and contributing for the team.
“I’ll do whatever I can to be on the field helping them,” said Thomas after the game. “I do take pride in it… I was still able to run, so I got out there and tried to do my best.”
His best on Sunday night was his 35th career 100-yard receiving game, extending his own Broncos franchise record and moving himself past former Detroit Lion Calvin Johnson for third-most in the NFL since his first 100-yard receiving game in 2011.
“It took some guts to stay out there,” said head coach Vance Joseph. “He was actually nicked, and had an X-ray in the third quarter — and came back to play. That takes guts to play.”
Thomas’s play caught the attention of his starting quarterback, Trevor Siemian. “He’s a difference-maker,” Siemian said about his Pro-Bowl wide receiver. “He got a lot of attention tonight, and we just found a way to get it to him.”
His quiet attitude and low-key style seems unusual for a top-tier wide receiver in today’s NFL. Many elite players playing the position display prima donna attitudes and favor loud-mouth displays, but not Thomas. Not ‘DT’.
Thomas, rather, prefers to go about his business in a low-key manner, and as he moves up the Broncos’ charts, hopefully, he’ll be recognized for his toughness, dedication and his innumerable contributions to the franchise.
Thomas, who was especially notable on Sunday for playing his heart out in an otherwise-futile effort, is becoming one of the best players to ever wear a Broncos uniform — and he’s one of the biggest reason to believe in a Broncos’ turnaround after Sunday night’s debacle.
