Broncos dynamic rookie may be earning a much bigger role on offense
If the Denver Broncos aren’t going to sign a veteran receiver, they might as well give a bigger opportunity to rookie fifth-round pick Montrell Washington. Right? Washington was absolutely outstanding throughout training camp and the preseason. He had some rookie moments in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks but he looked really good in Week 2 vs. the Texans.
Washington looked much more comfortable out there returning punts for the Broncos, averaging nearly 15 yards per return on four opportunities. He then made a couple of plays offensively that didn’t end up counting, but could give the coaching staff confidence to give him more of a role going forward.
Montrell Washington’s role for the Denver Broncos could be increasing soon
Washington has obviously been impressive on special teams, but not even just as a return specialist. As Locked On Broncos host and Mile High Sports Broncos beat reporter Cody Roark pointed out, Washington also almost blocked a field goal in the game against Houston. It’s not exactly the same, of course, but you almost get some Terrell Davis vibes here. Washington is proving himself to be the type of player that is willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself worthy of his next opportunity.
And he’s an absolute baller.
Against the Texans, Washington ran a slot fade and wasn’t quite able to position himself to stay in bounds, but he made a freakish catch right at the sideline before he ended up out of bounds for one of the “incomplete passes” of the day.
Earlier on in the game, the Broncos gave Washington another opportunity to create with the ball in his hands offensively and he responded with a 39-yard gain despite being a fish in a barrel in the offensive backfield initially. The 39-yard gain was wiped out by a completely unnecessary holding called on Melvin Gordon.
Again, if the Broncos aren’t going to be signing any additional receivers anytime soon, they need to increase Montrell Washington’s reps within the offense. KJ Hamler is also back practicing this week, albeit on a limited basis. Whether or not Hamler is able to go against the 49ers, the Broncos could absolutely run a track meet against San Francisco with Washington and hopefully Hamler as well. Maybe even Jerry Jeudy if we’re all lucky.
At his Wednesday press conference, Russell Wilson mentioned that there are certain qualities about Washington that remind him of Tyler Lockett, his old pal from Seattle. You can tell that the trust between Wilson and Washington has been growing since training camp, and you can see that the Broncos have grown rather impressed with the young man as well.
More opportunities within the offense should be on the very near horizon for Washington, who is shaping up to be arguably the team’s most impactful draft pick early on from the class of 2022.