The Denver Broncos are gearing up for their Sunday AFC showdown with the Houston Texans and are hopeful they’ll have one of their top wide receivers available for them at kickoff.
Jerry Jeudy misses Wednesday’s practice with injury
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy did not participate in Wednesday’s practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the AFC South’s Houston Texans (6-5), who have been one of the league’s best stories this season.
Jeudy was designated with a groin injury and did not participate in team stretch, individual, or team drills on Wednesday. This will be something worth monitoring for Thursday and Friday’s practices and whether or not his status upgrades to limited or full participation.
However, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that Jeudy should be fine and will return to practice on Thursday.
“I think he will be fine,” Payton said. “We’ll see him tomorrow. That would be it.”
Sunday’s game against Houston showcases some opportunities on film for Jeudy to have a potentially big game if he does play. Texans second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is playing well under the guidance and direction of first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, and he’d likely shadow wherever Courtland Sutton moves on Sunday.
This leaves potential opportunities open for Jeudy and other receivers to produce in the slot and on the outside opposite of Sutton.
“I think one of the challenges every week is there are certain plays and certain plans that sometimes go as planned and sometimes they don’t,” Payton said regarding the receiver rotation featuring Mims. “They are making plays for us when he is in there. Like [WR] Jerry [Jeudy] last week, it was a game plan where I would have expected more touches. There were certain coverages and certain things that took place maybe where all of a sudden—the catch [WR Courtland] Sutton had on third down late in the game in the fourth quarter is really a [WR Marvin] Mims [Jr.] play, but he got funneled down and Courtland then becomes the secondary [receiver]. With the skill guys, sometimes it is hard to predict. We continue to gameplan and look at their strengths and try to get him involved early and often.”
If he’s unable to go, the Broncos will likely roll with a rotation of Sutton, Mims, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Brandon Johnson, who was designated to return from injured reserve this afternoon.
While this season hasn’t been what Jeudy has likely hoped for from a production standpoint, the Broncos’ five-game winning streak has certainly showcased a more energetic and cheerful side of him.
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz pops up on injury report
Jeudy was the only Broncos player to miss Wednesday’s practice as a non-participant, but kicker Wil Lutz popped up on the report in a limited capacity.
Lutz has a right hip injury designation, according to the team’s official report on Wednesday afternoon, that is worth monitoring. He’s been a dynamic piece of the Broncos ability to put up points during their five-game win streak, including going five-for-five against the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago.
Despite being limited, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos host any kicker tryouts this week in the event Lutz isn’t ready to go for Sunday’s game against the Texans.
Rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims was also listed as a limited participant on Wednesday with a hamstring designation. This is something worth keeping an eye on because Mims dealt with a hamstring issue during organized team activities and a little bit into training camp.
Here are the full list of players listed on the team’s official injury report for Wednesday.
Full:
- Outside linebacker Baron Browning – wrist.
- Wide receiver Brandon Johnson – hamstring.
Limited:
- Kicker Wil Lutz – right hip.
- Wide receiver Marvin Mims – hamstring.
Did Not Participate:
- Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy – groin.
Denver will be back at practice on Thursday, and we’ll provide updates or any listed changes.
For more on Jeudy and other players’ injuries, stay tuned to tomorrow’s episode of Good Morning Broncos on Mile High Sports YouTube Page at 9:00 a.m. MT, and be sure to subscribe.
