The Denver Broncos have been the NFL’s most disappointing team in 2022. Currently at 3-10, the season is over as far as the playoffs are concerned but the team needs to look for any positives it can find.
The Broncos will soon enter another turbulent offseason that will include significant questions regarding the future of head coach Nathaniel Hackett as well as the futures of several players on the roster.
If he is still around, George Paton will have his work cut out for him to turn the Broncos in the opposite direction.
The Broncos have experienced an incredible amount of injuries this season. Many starters will be out of the lineup for part or all of this season, including Russell Wilson, who will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Broncos need several players on the team to finish this season strong and on a good note to take something into next season. In some cases, their performance, or lack thereof, could directly lead to a decision on their future with the team.
Broncos who need to finish 2022 strong: Randy Gregory, Linebacker
Randy Gregory was the team’s big free-agent signing this offseason but a knee injury has forced him to miss the last nine games. Though there is a chance he could return to the field as soon as this Sunday, he has been a disappointment to this point.
The Broncos will hope he isn’t a disappointment going forward as he signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the team, choosing the Broncos over staying with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Broncos traded Bradley Chubb ahead of this year’s deadline so the team will need to find the next primary pass rusher going forward. Gregory will be the first option to fill that role if he can live up to it.
He had two sacks this season before being injured in Week 4. The hope will be that he is fully recovered from the injury and can finish the season with a few more. One multi-sack game before this season is over would be highly encouraging.