Is Trinity Benson the answer at punt returner for Denver?
The return game has been a weakness of the Denver Broncos for a number of years now. Is Trinity Benson the man to turn things around?
Trinity Benson is a second-year wide receiver out of East Central (Oklahoma). If you have never heard of him, that’s because he is new to the Denver Broncos roster.
Benson signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent who currently wears #2 for the team. Of course, once the season starts and if he makes the 53-man roster, he will have to change to a wide receiver number (10-19 or 80-89).
Denver’s wide receiver group has a lot of talent and it is likely that if Benson is going to make the team, he will have to impress on special teams. In college, Benson returned 35 kickoffs for 642 yards, which is an average of 18.3 yards per return.
In 2015, Benson returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. With his speed (he ran a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash), he could be an extremely dangerous weapon in the return game. That sort of thing reminds one of Trindon Holliday (remember him?)
In 2015, Benson returned a total of 11 kicks for 221. He averaged 20.1 yards per kick return, which is incredible. For comparison, as a team, the Denver Broncos returned 35 punts with an average of just 4.4 yards per return (you read that correctly).
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Benson will compete on special teams with guys such as Phillip Lindsay (although Lindsay could see less action there), River Cracraft, Brendan Langley, and Devontae Booker.
As training camp comes and goes, we may even see other guys fighting for a spot through the return game. That would make things tougher for Benson, but it would be the case for all roster bubble players.
The Broncos have often had at least one undrafted player make the 53-man roster. This year, Benson very well could be the next one.