The Denver Broncos are well underway with training camp in 2021, but not every player is playing up to expectations. Who has disappointed so far?
Denver Broncos training camp is now in full swing, and the team is merely days away from its first preseason game of the 2021 season against the Minnesota Vikings. The Broncos will practice this week against the Vikings to finally get a shot at someone other than themselves on the practice field, and there is plenty right now to be excited about in Broncos Country.
With that being said, there are always opportunities to look at players and areas of the team with a critical eye. No matter where a guy was drafted or how they got onto the 90-man roster, expectations were set going into training camp and some players have met or even exceeded those expectations.
Some players, unfortunately, have not.
Which Denver Broncos players are, so far, falling short of expectations? Which players are — dare we say — disappointing thus far?
There’s no need to be overly negative when it comes to players fighting for their NFL lives, but hopefully, this list of players will turn things around in the coming days and weeks.
1. Tyrie Cleveland, WR
The Denver Broncos’ wide receiver room is absolutely loaded, especially if they are all fully healthy.
Courtland Sutton is back and making explosive plays at training camp. Jerry Jeudy has taken a massive step forward it seems.
Tim Patrick is coming off of a career year.
KJ Hamler has been healthy to open camp and is showing off his outstanding speed.
The depth at receiver for the Denver Broncos is all about young talent stepping up and one player that was expected to vastly outperform his draft status in year two was 2020 seventh-round pick Tyrie Cleveland.
So far, Cleveland has really struggled in camp with dropped passes and he’s now missed some extensive time with a backside injury.
Hopefully, Cleveland will be able to get back onto the practice field soon and reestablish himself. He was one of the best special teams players in last year’s draft class and could unquestionably make an impact there for the Denver Broncos in 2021.
For the time being, though, other guys are really stepping up and possibly pushing him down and off the final roster.
Expectations remain high for Cleveland going into joint practices with the Vikings as well as the preseason slate. We need to see him get back on the saddle and make some more plays before he loses his spot as a possible WR5.