The first two games of the 2026 season may be the worst we've seen from Courtland Sutton in his time with the Denver Broncos.
And that is something the team can use to its advantage in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Sutton is one of the longest-tenured players on the team, he's one of the top leaders on the team, and he's also been one of the bigger disappointments early in the 2026 season. The Broncos also recently paid Sutton the remainder of his prorated bonus money, casting some doubt over his long-term future with the team.
In other words: There's nowhere to go from here but 'up'. How bad are Sutton's struggles through the first two weeks of the season, and why should anyone in Broncos Country be encouraged that things can turn around as quickly as Week 3?
Courtland Sutton's struggles in 2026 can shift on a dime for the Broncos
Through the first two games of the season, Sutton has just 5 receptions for 36 yards on 9 targets. He has just one reception that has gone for a 1st down. To be fair, he also drew a crucial pass interference penalty against the Jaguars that helped the Broncos win the game, but Sutton's impact on the game has simply not been what Broncos fans are used to seeing from him.
Bo Nix's passer rating when targeting Sutton through the first two games of the season is a putrid 25.5. The reason for that low number is the fact that two of Nix's nine pass attempts in Sutton's direction have been picked off -- one against the Chiefs, one against the Jaguars.
Since Sean Payton took over as the head coach of the Broncos, Broncos QBs have had a passer rating of 98.2 when targeting Sutton. He has caught 25 touchdowns since 2023, and has been one of the best receivers in the NFL at moving the chains on 3rd and 4th down.
Sutton hasn't been flawless, but he's been clutch. He's come up big for Bo Nix and the Broncos...until this season.
The uncharacteristic struggles of Sutton will absolutely be noticed by the coaching staff, and there will almost certainly be a concerted effort to get him going as soon as possible.
We saw that from the Broncos in Week 2 with Jaylen Waddle's involvement after a brutal first game with the team where he only caught one pass for two yards. They followed that up by giving Waddle 10 targets, and he delivered with 8 receptions for 138 yards in the win against the Jaguars.
How do you beat a team like the Los Angeles Rams on the biggest stage? Well, you need your biggest stars to step up. The Broncos know that in order to be a Super Bowl champion this season, they absolutely need Courtland Sutton at his best.
Sometimes, when a hitter in baseball is cold, or a basketball player is going through a rough stretch shooting the ball, it just takes one "get-right" game to get a player like this back on track. Interestingly enough, Sutton has been rather fantastic against NFC opponents in recent years.
Courtland Sutton has feasted for Broncos against NFC opponents recently
- vs. Packers in 2025: 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD
- vs. Commanders in 2025: 5 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
- vs. Cowboys in 2025: 4 receptions, 67 yards
- vs. Giants in 2025: 6 receptions, 84 yards
- vs. Eagles in 2025: 8 receptions, 99 yards
In Week 3, the Broncos are facing off against the Los Angeles Rams, who are supposed to be one of the truly elite teams in the NFC this season. Maybe the numbers Sutton posted last year were simply a coincidence against NFC teams, but the fact remains: He needs to get going, and it just so happens that another NFC team is on the schedule this week.
The Broncos proved in Week 2 against the Jaguars that when they want to force-feed someone the ball, they can do it. In order to truly "feed" both Sutton and Waddle, they have to have sustained drives and enough plays offensively, so they have to stay balanced.
That doesn't change the fact that getting Sutton going in Week 3 should be a priority, and the Broncos might even catch the Rams sleeping on Sutton after Waddle's huge breakout game. As poorly as the first two games have gone, the motivation to get him involved -- as well as Sutton's motivation to prove the first two games were a fluke -- should have No. 14 in focus against the Rams.
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