Every year the Denver Broncos have players that underperform their expectations, or have a rough season. With that being said, and Christmas getting closer, which players from the 2023-2024 roster are on Santa's "Naughty List", and deserve coal this upcoming Christmas?
1. Safety Kareem Jackson:
The Broncos re-signed safety Kareem Jackson to a one-year deal in free agency, with the hopes of getting back not only a veteran presence in the secondary but also a locker room leader. Once "K-Jack" was re-signed everyone thought that he was going to have a reduced role in the field, but injuries in the safety room, to be specific Caden Sterns and PJ Locke out for the first couple of games, made Jackson the starting strong safety.
Jackson had a key interception in the end zone against the Raiders in Week 1 despite the loss, and a game-clinching interception against the Bears in Week 4. Here is the negative thing about him ... Kareem has been suspended for six games and has received the following fines due to illegal hits and unnecessary roughness penalties ...
Kareem Jackson, on his recent meeting with Roger Goodell regarding his hits and his suspension: “… I feel a lot better leaving being able to express myself, but I was told that I’m responsible for the offensive guys’ protection. So, I’m not really sure how I protect myself …” pic.twitter.com/DcfKF68NXu
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 12, 2023
- Week 1 vs LV: $14,819.00 - illegal hit on WR Jakobi Meyers
- Week 2 vs WAS: $19,669.00 + Ejection from the game - helmet-to-helmet hit on TE Logan Thomas
- Week 3 at MIA: $11,473 - unnecessary roughness
- Week 6 at KC: $43,709 - unnecessary roughness
- Week 7 vs GB: Ejection from the game + 4-game suspension (reduced to two games) with no pay check after hit on TE Luke Musgrave
- Week 11 vs MIN: 4-game suspension with no pay check after hit on QB Joshua Dobbs (no flag was shown after the play)
Jackson has received four fines for a total amount of $89,670, plus six games without receiving his respective salary.
2. Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey:
Many thought that the Broncos had finally found their franchise right tackle during free agency, as Denver signed former first-round draft pick Mike McGlinchey to a five-year, $87.5 million contract. So far, Mike has underperformed compared to the big contract he got.
Denver's offensive line has improved a lot compared to last season's but that does not mean that McGlinchey has been great. He has been a solid run-blocker, but in pass protection, he has been very bad. Compared to the other four starting offensive linemen, Mike has been the worst statistically.
Just for you to get an idea ...
RT Mike McGlinchey: 9 penalties (team high), 5 sacks allowed (team high), 65.4 PFF Grade
RG Quinn Meinerz: 2 penalties, 0 sacks allowed, 85.6 PFF Grade
C Lloyd Cushenberry III: 5 penalties, 0 sacks allowed, 73.2 PFF Grade
LG Ben Powers: 2 penalties, 2 sacks allowed, 60.8 PFF Grade (lowest among Broncos starting OL's)
LT Garrett Bolles: 5 penalties, 2 sacks allowed, 76.7 PFF Grade
Mike has the ninth-most penalties among tackles and sixteenth in sacks allowed. Not a good look for the former Notre Dame product. He is the Bronco with the most penalties (so far) in the season.
3. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy:
Where to start with Jerry Jeudy.
In the offseason, many saw Jeudy as an available trade asset for the Denver Broncos, especially ahead and during the 2023 NFL Draft. Denver received offers and decided to not move on from him. The same during the trade deadline ... the Broncos received offers for Jeudy but declined.
With the addition of Sean Payton, many saw Jeudy as a big breakout candidate for the 2023-24 season, and even as Denver's number one wide receiver. It has been a rough year for Jerry, as he missed the season opener against the Raiders due to an injury in preseason, and his best statistical game ... 5 receptions for 81 yards against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.
It is important to mention that the Broncos declined Jeudy's 5th-year option for 2024.
45 receptions (in 67 targets) for 581 yards and one touchdown, not the best stats from a guy in his contract year, and a former first-round draft pick.
Jerry had two big drops on two catchable long passes from Russell Wilson and did not drag his foot on a play that could have been a touchdown for Denver against the Chargers (the drive ended in a field goal).
Which other Broncos players deserve coal for Christmas?