To say the 2022 season has been a struggle for the Denver Broncos offense would be a massive understatement. After Russell Wilson was acquired in March, everyone sort of assumed — even with some growing pains — that the Denver offense would be markedly better this season than it has been in any recent year, including the 2015 season when the team won a Super Bowl thanks to its historically dominant defense. After three games in 2022, it’s almost looking like the offense is going to need a 2015-like effort from the defense to do any damage at all in the playoffs (or even get there in the first place).
Despite the team’s struggle, they are 2-1 heading into their first divisional game of the season, a Week 4 bout with the Las Vegas Raiders on the road. The offense, as a whole, has struggled both in the red zone (vs. SEA and HOU) and between the 20s (vs. SF), but individuals within the offense have struggled as well. Which individual players have been the most concerning on offense so far in 2022?
3 most concerning Denver Broncos offensive players early in 2022
3. KJ Hamler, wide receiver
Despite a miraculous comeback from multiple very serious injuries last year, KJ Hamler has done absolutely nothing through the first three weeks of the 2022 season. The former second-round pick out of Penn State showed plenty of promise throughout his rookie season with the Denver Broncos, but he was limited to a couple of brief appearances in 2021 and has been targeted just one time here in 2022.
Although he was not active for Week 2, Hamler’s snaps dwindled from 40 in Week 1 against the Seahawks to just 19 against the 49ers. Yes, the Broncos are easing him back slowly, but that was after it sounded like Hamler had worked his way almost back to full strength over the course of the offseason. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett wouldn’t call Hamler’s Week 2 absence a “setback” but he really didn’t need to call it that.
Everyone could see it for what it was.
The fact that Hamler was back in Week 3 was pretty big for both him and the Broncos, but once again, he hasn’t gotten involved in the offense. As of right now, the Broncos look desperate for wide receiver help despite the talent of some of the guys on their depth chart. Hamler has talent and the hope is that he can give the Broncos a huge boost in the vertical passing game. Until we see some targets going his way, though, his current status is cause for concern.
Denver Broncos concerning player no. 2: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE
In the early goings of the 2022 NFL season, it doesn’t look like Denver Broncos tight end Albert Okwuegbunam has what it takes to be a true TE1 in the NFL. That’s a harsh critique just three games in, but Okwuegbunam has given the Broncos next-to-nothing so far in three games, including as a blocker in the running game.
Okwuegbunam has just six receptions in the first three games, which wouldn’t be so bad if he had maybe a touchdown or a big play (or two) among them. Unfortunately, he’s been limited after the catch, and his issue with drops seems to be bleeding over into this season after Pro Football Reference credited him with two drops last year.
The Broncos have taken Okwuegbunam off the field completely for running plays, perhaps something Demeco Ryans exploited in scheming against Nathaniel Hackett and the Denver offense in Week 3. If the Broncos literally can’t run the ball when Okwuegbunam is on the field, that’s a major issue. He’s not giving them enough in the passing game to justify taking up space out there and giving away what the play call is going to be, at least in terms of run or pass.
Keep in mind, the Broncos were playing Okwuegbunam deep into their first two preseason games because he needed reps. That was shocking for a team that skipped out on signing a veteran tight end in a deep free agent crop (aside from Eric Tomlinson). The Broncos could have gone after someone like Tyler Conklin, CJ Uzomah, or even Gerald Everett. Those may not be the best blocking tight ends in the game, but they offer more in the passing game.
Greg Dulcich is eligible to come back off of injured reserve in Week 5, and that can’t come soon enough.
Denver Broncos concerning offensive player no. 1: Melvin Gordon, RB
While some would take a dip into the hot take hot tub and say that quarterback Russell Wilson is the most concerning player on offense for the Denver Broncos right now in 2022, I would beg to differ. I think we’ve seen enough “good” from the offense in three games (moving the ball well in weeks 1-2, just not cashing in on red zone chances) to have faith that Wilson will eventually figure things out.
We even saw some glimpses of “vintage” Russ against the 49ers. Unfortunately, we also saw what has become known as the norm for Melvin Gordon. Gordon had two fumbles against the 49ers, both of which could have put the Broncos at 1-2 on the season. He also had a dropped pass which he tipped up in the air like a beach ball, and somehow nobody on the 49ers was able to come down with it. When you couple Gordon’s game against the 49ers with the extremely costly fumble in Week 1, you have an absolute disaster alert every time this guy touches the football.
Javonte Williams has plenty to improve on three games in as well. His vision on some runs has not been great, and he’s cost himself some additional yardage as a result. But at this point, everyone in Broncos Country would feel much more comfortable with 33 in the backfield late in games compared to no. 25.
Gordon, to his credit, has done well in some areas. He had a great pass protection rep on the big play to Courtland Sutton against the 49ers with Russell Wilson dropping back into his own end zone. If not for Gordon’s textbook pass pro rep, Wilson might have been sacked for a safety. With that being said, the fumbles and ball security issues vastly outweigh the pass protection.
Russell Wilson slowly drifting down NFL quarterback rankings
Matt Verderame of FanSided unveiled his weekly quarterback rankings, and the latest installment was not kind towards Russell Wilson.
Broncos Country has resorted to collectively holding its breath anytime Gordon has the ball. You’ve got to think everyone on the coaching staff and everyone in the front office is lying if they say they aren’t feeling somewhat the same. Gordon has three fumbles this year. He’s now up to 10 fumbles as a member of the Broncos and it feels like a terrible risk every time he has the ball in his hands.