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Denver Broncos: Second-year players ready to contribute

By Sayre Bedinger

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs into the end zone untouched for a second half touchdown as the Badgers beat the Brigham Young Cougars 40-6 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs into the end zone untouched for a second half touchdown as the Badgers beat the Brigham Young Cougars 40-6 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 02: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch over Darius Phillips #4 of the Western Michigan Broncos in the fourth quarter during the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Western Michigan and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 02: Troy Fumagalli #81 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch over Darius Phillips #4 of the Western Michigan Broncos in the fourth quarter during the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Western Michigan and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Troy Fumagalli, TE

Troy Fumagalli was placed on injured reserve last year with a sports hernia injury, an unfortunate development after the Senior Bowl that took away his entire rookie season.

The really unfortunate aspect of Fumagalli’s injury is that he could have either solidified a starting position with the Broncos or at least proven himself as a viable starting option going into the 2019 offseason with the number of injuries the team suffered.

Fumagalli was joined on injured reserve by both Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt at different points of the season, and the Broncos ended up with a tight end group of Matt LaCosse, Brian Parker, and Temarrick Hemingway at one point in time.

You’re telling me Fumagalli wouldn’t have made an impact on this roster?

I don’t know how serious Fumagalli’s injury really was. We will often see guys with short-term injuries placed on IR so teams can simply keep them on the roster instead of cutting them. It’s one way NFL teams play the unfortunate numbers game.

I’m not saying Fumagalli’s injury was like that one way or another, but I am saying it was a shame he ended up getting IR’d and was unable to play as a rookie.

Now, with everyone healthy, it seems like Fumagalli is the clear fourth option at the position but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to play or contribute.

The former 1st-team All-Big Ten tight end has excellent hands, is a solid blocker, and can play all of the tight end positions well. I’m excited to see what he brings to the table.

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