Denver Broncos: Training camp predictions for every position group

Running Back

Prediction: Phillip Lindsay will be markedly improved as a receiver

We all love Phillip Lindsay, the Colorado Kid who has been the most productive undrafted player at his position in NFL history through their first two seasons.

Lindsay’s historic start has elevated expectations and put the microscope on some of the weaknesses of his game.

The Broncos also brought in veteran running back Melvin Gordon, whose arrival was not met kindly by Lindsay initially.

It’s all good now, though.

One of the weaknesses in Lindsay’s game through two NFL seasons has been catching passes out of the backfield. It’s still astounding to me that a player with his open-field explosiveness and speed has just one receiving touchdown, though a second was called back in last year’s Houston game on a bad penalty call on Garett Bolles.

Even still, Lindsay has been targeted 95 times in the passing game through two NFL seasons and he has 70 receptions with just one touchdown. He’s also got 10 dropped passes among those 95 targets.

The touchdown number has got to be some sort of flaw in the Broncos’ offensive game-planning because for Lindsay to have 70 receptions in two seasons with just one touchdown seems borderline impossible with his open-field abilities.

The arrival of Gordon certainly sparked some of the competitive fire in Lindsay this offseason, and he’s been working on his route running and pass-catching abilities. I think when camp opens, we’re going to notice a huge difference in Lindsay’s pass-catching and dream of his expanded role in the offense in 2020.