Denver Broncos: Five candidates to win punt return job

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver River Cracraft #11 of the Denver Broncos comes up with a catch and first down under coverage by strong safety Jahleel Addae #37 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver River Cracraft #11 of the Denver Broncos comes up with a catch and first down under coverage by strong safety Jahleel Addae #37 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver River Cracraft #11 of the Denver Broncos comes up with a catch and first down under coverage by strong safety Jahleel Addae #37 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Wide receiver River Cracraft #11 of the Denver Broncos comes up with a catch and first down under coverage by strong safety Jahleel Addae #37 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

With the preseason just a couple of days away, here are five candidates to take over the Denver Broncos punt return duties.

Special teams was not an exciting spot on the Denver Broncos during the 2018 season. The team had multiple players in the special teams backfield throughout the course of the season and nobody really stood out.

The longest return of any member of the Broncos was 20 yards. As a team, the Broncos made seventeen fair catches and thirty returns.

It felt like the Broncos were beginning drives in their own end more times than not, and that is never a good thing, especially for a young team.

Out of the players who returned punts for the Broncos in 2018, three of the four remain. The only player who did that job for them last year not with the team was Adam Jones. The other three—(River Cracraft, Phillip Lindsay, DaeSean Hamilton)—are still capable.

There are plenty of new faces on the Denver Broncos and with five preseason games to play before teams have to get down to 53 players on the roster, there will be opportunities for players to stand out and make the team.

Some players will need to show what they’ve got on special teams in order to be considered to make the final roster. Who will step up?

Before we get started, I realize that there will be players left off this list. Players who will make this team and could be in play to be a punt returner.

Here are five players who could take over the punt returner job.

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