Recapping Denver Broncos rookie performances vs. the Cowboys

Denver Broncos rookie recap vs. Cowboys: Rounds 5-7

Fifth-round safety Delarrrin Turner-Yell played a nice game.

Turner-Yell came up in run support and did not give anything up big behind him. He did his job. When the runningbacks did break free, he was the first to fly up and disrupt his momentum enough to where the calvary would arrive if he did not make the tackle.

Nothing too extensive on his play from Saturday, it was fine, but nothing that sways an opinion on his expectations.

Montrell Washington contributed in a way that was expected, in the return game. While there was an attempt to get him involved with the Denver Broncos offense, there was no overwhelming production.

Although Washington had an average night from a wide receiver standpoint catching just two passes for eight yards, he had two impactful punt returns for 45 yards. His first return was for 18-yards, a return that most missed due to a poor camera angle.

On his second punt return, Washington helped jumpstart a touchdown scoring drive by the Denver Broncos offense with a 27-yard return. Starting from their own 37-yard line, Josh Johnson led the offense down the field capped off with a beautiful catch and throw to Kendall Hinton.

Washington not only made great decisions on when to return the punts, but he made great production out of them also.

Luke Wattenberg got the start for the Denver Broncos at the center.

With Lloyd Cushenberry III sitting out with the majority of the starters, Wattenberg was gifted the chance. No one from the offensive line got too much of a push in the run game against the Dallas Cowboys.

One play that stood out was the 4th & 2 play when Josh Johnson was crushed, Wattenberg looked a tad late on his reach and did not get much of a push. That said, nobody on the offensive line blocked that play particularly well, but the ability to get out and block horizontally will be important for this offensive scheme.

On a play that does not stand out on the stat sheet for Matt Henningsen, he had what was the most impactful play from a rookie defender. With a great inside pass rush, he forced Cooper Rush into a throw that was left inside on an out-breaking route, which lead to a P.J. Locke interception.

Along with an interception causing pressure, Henningsen stood strong in the run game and did have a tackle.

Faion Hicks had a rough night. He was targeted often, resulting in positive plays for the Dallas Cowboys. He was in coverage on what was the lone touchdown by the Dallas Cowboys last night. Hicks was also beat on a deep ball on Ben DiNucci’s first pass attempt of the game down the sideline when the Cowboys were backed up on their own 1-yard line.

Hicks might have had one of the toughest nights out there out of the Denver Broncos rookie class.