Denver Broncos: Colby Wadman ready for NFL audition
Denver Broncos punter Marquette King has not practiced all week with a hip injury. Colby Wadman is ready for his chance to prove he belongs.
Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said at his press conference on Friday that punter Marquette King is doubtful to play against the New York Jets, paving the way for rookie Colby Wadman, a player who went undrafted in 2017 out of UC-Davis.
The Broncos signed Wadman to the practice squad after working him out last week, and at that point in time, it had everything to do with Marquette King’s average performance through the team’s first three games and nothing to do with King’s hip injury that has kept him on the sideline this whole week at practice.
King is not expected to be able to play on Sunday against the Jets, and the coaching staff seems to have a lot of confidence in Wadman to come in and get the job done not only as a punter but as a holder on extra points and field goals, something Marquette King has obviously done quite well this season.
Wadman said after practice on Friday that he and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon have a relationship dating back to McMahon’s time with the Indianapolis Colts, so clearly this is a player McMahon has coveted for some time.
What the Broncos have been seeking from King — consistency — has been lacking in the team’s first four regular season games and if we’re looking even further back, it wasn’t there in the team’s preseason games either.
King will have the occasional big punt but he doesn’t appear to be the All-Pro punter the Broncos thought he could be in the Mile High City air.
Wadman, according to McMahon, has been consistent in practices and is what the Broncos are looking for at the position.
If Wadman plays well, people will have a field day talking about his days delivering pizzas after barely getting minicamp looks with NFL teams in 2017.
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This game will also be Wadman’s chance to really solidify his spot on the Broncos’ roster moving forward. If he shows consistency, which King hasn’t, why would the Broncos not stick with him? We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves there, but if he can prove himself to be an asset, the Broncos might be willing to eat King’s cap hit and move forward with Wadman the rest of this season and beyond.
If and when Wadman is brought up to the active roster, the Broncos will have to let someone go.