The Denver Broncos will be facing a familiar face when the Cleveland Browns come into town for Monday Night Football. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who was drafted by the Broncos 15th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, will be making his return to the Mile High City. Except this time, he will be wearing a different orange jersey.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Jeudy was traded to the Browns in exchange for late-round draft picks. The move needed to be made, as Jeudy grew increasingly disgruntled. He also never turned the corner into being the elite wide receiver the Broncos expected him to be.
Needless to say, things didn’t necessarily end on a positive note for Jeudy in orange and blue. Despite the Broncos and Browns heading in opposite directions in terms of success, Jeudy is still very excited to face his former team. In fact, he took a bit of a shot at the Broncos.
“My feelings? I just want to go back up there and whip their ass,” Jeudy told Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand.
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy eager to beat former team
With how his tenure in Denver went, Jeudy undoubtedly would like to beat the team that traded him.
“I’m ready to go over there and win a football game,” Jeudy told Cleveland reporters ahead of the matchup. “You always want to beat the opposing team that you used to play for, you know, that’s just the competitive nature of us athletes.”
Jeudy hasn’t necessarily put up jaw-dropping stats in Cleveland by any means. However, he has been the 3-8 Browns most productive receiver. For the 2024 season, Jeudy has had 45 receptions for 645 yards and two touchdowns.
Jeudy having success against his former team might not be the easiest feat, as he will likely be matched up against Broncos superstar cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Following practice on Thursday, Surtain shared his excitement for the matchup.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Surtain. “It’s going to be like a couple of practices we shared here in the past and practices at Alabama. It’s going to be a lot of good competes.”
Courtland Sutton, who shared the Broncos wide receiver room with Jeudy, is happy to see his former teammate. While he’s rooting for his friend’s success, he feels confident in the Broncos’ defense and their ability to shut down offenses.
“He’s a competitor, man,” Sutton said of Jeudy. “I have so much love and respect for Jerry. He’s one of the most talented guys I’ve shared the field with. … I wish nothing but many blessings and a lot of highlights coming to him. … But going into this week, I think our defense is going to do what they need to do. He’s got a tough matchup with (Surtain).”