Who Will Be the Punt and Kickoff Returner for the Broncos?

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There is nothing quite as exciting in football as your team returning a punt or kickoff for a touchdown. Trindon Holliday’s two returns in the 2012 Baltimore Ravens playoff loss are the only moments of that game I allow myself to think about anymore.

At the time it was hard not to get excited every time you saw Holliday in the end zone.  That unfortunately changed last season when the excitement turned to anxiety that a costly fumble was just a few moments away. During free agency Holliday was not surprisingly released by the Broncos. Eric Decker, who filled in on punt returns after Holliday was benched and Welker stopped returns after back-to-back concussions, also has not returned to the Broncos this year.

These departures lead to the question – Who will be the Broncos returner next season?

Last night Broncos suite holders and sponsors were treated to an evening at Sports Authority Field that included a Q & A with the Broncos coaching staff, including Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers. Here is what Rodgers had to say about the returner question:

"“There are some guys we have on our team who have done it. Emmanuel Sanders has done it. Wes Welker has done it. Omar Bolden was our returner at one point. Andre Caldwell went to the house against Tennessee and it got called back. There are some options with guys who have played in this league. (Bradley) Roby, our first-round pick, has done kickoff return. We picked up a free agent that we liked, Isaiah Burse from Fresno State, who had some production. So there are some options. We’ll see how it plays out.”“It’ll be an exciting battle for us in training camp.”"

It’s nice that Rodgers feels like the Broncos have a variety of options when it comes to returns this season. I personally hope the solution is not Wes Welker both because I have concerns about his concussion history and because when I think of him returning punts I can’t help but flash back to the painful end to the Broncos-Patriots regular season game last year.

Who do you think will be the Broncos returner this season?

DenverBroncos.com has more highlights from the coaches Q & A Tuesday night.