What Shelby Manning is thankful for
1. Phillip Lindsay
Anytime a team is able to find a diamond in the rough on an undrafted free agent, it’s pretty exciting. Not only were the Denver Broncos able to find this in the hometown boy Phillip Lindsay, but they also got extremely lucky in bringing him to Denver.
Colorado boy Lindsay set the University of Colorado’s record in both all purpose yards and yards from scrimmage, at 5,760 and 4,683 respectively. Lindsay was not invited to participate at the NFL Combine, primarily due to concern with Lindsay’s size (5’8″ and 190 pounds). This gave him little exposure to NFL scouts, and his name went uncalled in the 2018 NFL Draft.
32 teams made a huge mistake, including the Denver Broncos. Upon signing as an UDFA, Lindsay’s immediate impact in the offense was immense. He became the first undrafted player in NFL history with 100+ scrimmage yards in their first two pro games, and would go on to become the first undrafted offensive rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl their rookie season.
Phillip Lindsay has become a kickstart to the heart of a Broncos’ run game that has struggled for consistency. Lindsay’s speed and ability to create gaps from nothing is unmatched. He has become a quick fan favorite in Denver, and it will be so much to watch him develop into something even greater as he ages.