Denver Broncos player to watch vs. Cowboys no. 3: UDFA/rookie receivers
How can you not be excited about the Denver Broncos’ collection of undrafted receivers at this point? I’m still wondering if we should really be excited enough to the point that you count on some of these guys for actual regular season snaps, but two players in particular are really going to be worth watching here as the preseason approaches.
First of all, Brandon Johnson, the rookie out of UCF who scored 11 touchdowns this past season. The hype surrounding Johnson has grown substantially in recent days. Johnson was recruited out of the same high school Pat Surtain II attended by Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni back when Azzanni was an assistant for the Tennessee Volunteers program.
Johnson committed to play for the Vols and Azzanni and is now getting the chance to work with him in Denver years later. He’s been getting some run lately with the first-team offense as Tim Patrick has gone down with an injury and other players like Tyrie Cleveland, Kendall Hinton, and now Courtland Sutton have been banged up at some point or another.
Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Johnson could be gaining the favor of Russell Wilson. His development over the course of the preseason will be fascinating.
The same could be said of Jalen Virgil, another absolute freak of an athlete on this roster who has speed for days. Virgil is a receiver built like a running back who offers an option in the return game as well as an explosive threat in the passing game.
Josh Johnson with a 50-yard BOMB to Jalen Virgil down the right sideline. Virgil made a great adjustment in the ball and caught it over Ojemudia.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) August 8, 2022
Slowly but surely, the former Appalachian State star has been making waves. One of the biggest advantages Virgil may have in his favor in the preseason is the fact that teams like to get a feel for their kickoff and punt coverage units, so they kick the ball accordingly.
Virgil will almost undoubtedly get the chance to return some kicks and he was very good at that in college, averaging over 30 yards per return.