Broncos rookie class a silver lining in an otherwise miserable season
Dec 30, 2018, 10:56 PM
If there is a silver lining to be found within a woebegone Denver Broncos 2018 season, it is the play of its rookie class.
Led by Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay, the first offensive player named to a roster for the game in NFL history, the Broncos featured a handful of standout players and meaningful contributors.
“I’m excited to see these guys get better and see their sophomore campaign next year,” said 104.3 The Fan host Orlando Franklin after Sunday’s season finale.
On Sunday, for instance, the trio of Lindsay, running back Royce Freeman, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton became just the third set of players in NFL history to each gain more than 500 yards from scrimmage in their rookie season.
Lindsay himself etched his name in the record books this season as well, becoming just the third undrafted player in league history to run for more than 1,000 yards in his rookie season.
And while he didn’t earn a takedown Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, linebacker Bradley Chubb came within 2.5 sacks of the all-time NFL rookie record.
“I know Von Miller, a couple of weeks ago, broke Simon Fletcher’s (Broncos career) sack record, but I think Bradley Chubb’s going to be able to break Von Miller’s sack record for the Denver Broncos here in a little bit,” Franklin said. “So, that’s an extreme positive.”
After the game Sunday, the Broncos collection of rookies earned praise from veterans like Von Miller and Derek Wolfe.
“We’ve got some talented rookies in here; they’re going to be second-year players next year,” Miller said, adding that the future is “exciting” for the Broncos.
Said Wolfe: “We’ve got a really good rookie class that came in and they’re going to mature and they’re going to get better next year.”
After the game, Sutton said that, while paying respect to the veterans in the locker room, the rookie class would look to step into a more prominent leadership role starting next season.
“We are definitely going to speak up when we feel like things need to be said and let our voice be heard because we won’t be going 6-10 ever again while we are here,” Sutton said. “I promise you that because we have such a strong core of young guys that want to win Super Bowls and want to be great.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
