Fifth-round pick Montrell Washington is already a Broncos starter

Even on the first day of the Denver Broncos’ 2022 training camp, certain things were obvious. Safety Justin Simmons is still the heart, soul and spokesman of the team. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton’s status as the team’s top target remains unchallenged. Quarterback Russell Wilson commanded the field, but his wife, Ciara, stole the show.

And one rookie is already a starter.

Fifth-round draft pick Montrell Washington, a receiver and return specialist out of tiny Samford University — an Alabama school with fewer undergraduate students than Cherry Creek High School — is already the man to beat when it comes to returning kicks and punts. On the practice field at Dove Valley on Wednesday, Washington was ostensibly competing with a pair of other players, but it was obvious, given both the reps and the offseason-long plaudits from the Broncos’ new coaching staff ever since he was drafted in April, that the jobs are clearly his to lose.

After practice, Washington didn’t shy away from the expectations of being all but anointed as the Broncos’ newest starter.

“I wouldn’t say there’s pressure. I’m glad they’re saying that, to be honest with you,” he told The Fan’s Shawn Drotar and Sandy Clough. “I’m just happy to be able to do that, and if that’s what they want me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability — just do my job. I’m just thankful.”

Washington’s dominant, all-around performance on the road against Florida in a wild, 70-52 loss last November, captured the attention of Denver receivers coach Zach Azzanni, who then showed the recording to new special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes prior to the draft.

“Coach ‘Z’ said, ‘I have a receiver that I like. He’s a small slot receiver. Would you remind watching him as a returner?’ I put the tape on, obviously,” Stukes recalled in May. “I know there’s a lot of Florida graduates out there, so I apologize. But anytime you have a kid at Samford that has production versus a big program, it draws your attention, right? So Coach ‘Z’ brought him up, then I went and watched him and I said, ‘This kid has talent.'”

In that game, Washington did it all. He caught 10 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bulldogs, while also rushing three times for 19 yards and another touchdown. He had another 179 yards on five kickoff returns (a whopping 35.8 yards per return average), including a scintillating, 98-yard touchdown return. He also completed his only pass attempt on a trick play for another 16 yards — a 382-yard explosion that the Broncos’ brass couldn’t help but notice.

“I know last year, (Diontae) Spencer was good, in my opinion; I watched his films,” Washington explained. “I’m just trying to pick up, and do better, from where he left off.”

Spencer averaged 7.9 yards per punt return and 17.1 per kickoff; career lows in each category in his third and final season as a Bronco. Spencer did return one punt for a touchdown in those three seasons, but Washington is looking for more.

“I’m kind of fearless back there,” he said. “In my head, when I catch the ball, I’m trying to score for the team. That’s my biggest thing.”

Confidence aside, Washington — like most rookies — found himself initially surprised by the level of NFL competition.

“It was tough when I first came, because it was very fast, and obviously, everybody was the best player on their (college) team,” he explained. “Now, I’m starting to adjust better. The veterans have really helped me a lot, and with them helping me, I’ve just been able to calm down, take a deep breath, and make more plays; be where I need to be to help get my guys open, or to get (myself) open. It’s been real good.”

While Washington is already the nominal starter in the return game, he’s still a receiver, and was on the field for many of the Broncos’ red-zone practice snaps on Wednesday. Working with Wilson has been exciting, but he really hasn’t been able to enjoy the moment yet, given swarms of Denver defensive backs surrounding him on every route.

“Everybody’s great — I’m not going to lie to you,” Washington said with a laugh.

Earlier in practice, backup quarterback Josh Johnson threw an ill-timed pass to Washington in the end zone that was behind him, but still potentially catchable. The potential vanished when safety P.J. Locke dove to deftly knock the ball to the ground before it even reached Washington’s outstretched hands. Lesson learned.

“In college, you can probably keep going and catch behind the back, there, those passes aren’t that hard. Here, everybody’s the best at their position. You’ve got to really be on your game, and you’ve got to just make plays,” he said. “That’s been the biggest thing for me; making plays. Doing what I’ve got to do, and being where I’ve got to be.”

Behind at least Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and (when healthy) K.J. Hamler, Washington understands that, when the regular season starts, it’ll be hard for him to find offensive snaps. That doesn’t bother the 5-foot-10, 170-pound speedster, because another job already awaits him. All Washington has to do is avoid fumbling the opportunity away — both figuratively and literally.

If Wednesday’s practice was any indication, however, Stukes’ praise appears to be well-founded; Washington never even bobbled the ball on dozens of return opportunities.

“If I can be the returner,” he said, before taking a long pause, “I’m going to try and pick up where I left off in that Florida game; continue that going into the big leagues.”

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