Carlos Henderson seeks return to Broncos, but future with club murky

Aug 21, 2018, 7:03 PM

Carlos Henderson (11) of the Denver Broncos runs against the Chicago Bears during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 10, 2017 in Chicago. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Carlos Henderson, who failed to report to training camp on July 24, met with general manager John Elway today with the hopes getting back with the team.

Joining “The Drive” on Tuesday, Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck said he’d bumped into Henderson in the parking lot at UCHealth Training Center, and the second-year pro said he was working with the organization about rejoining the team.

Henderson, who head coach Vance Joseph said met with Elway Tuesday afternoon, was put on the team’s reserve/did not report list in late July and has missed all of training camp.

But the odds Henderson sticks with the team may be slim, as Renck said the team would have to work through the issue of fining him for each day missed.

“I mean, he’s missed the entire summer, and teams, they’re not just going to start waiving fines for guys and set a precedent that way,” Renck said.

The receiver’s future with the team becomes more cloudy, according to “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley, because NFL “train” has left Henderson behind.

“The train in the NFL doesn’t stop moving. And this train’s been moving now for about three weeks. Guess who we found on that train? We found Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton,” Stokley said. “So, that train left Carlos Henderson. We don’t need him any longer. That’s what happens in the NFL.

“Sorry, but you weren’t here. You weren’t available. Other guys filled your shoes, and they did a great job of it.”

DMac echoed Stokley’s comments, saying there’s already five guys in the wide receivers room that are a lock — Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas, DaeSean Hamilton, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick.

“In an ideal world, if Henderson were to come back, you’d try to get him back onto your practice squad,” Renck said. “I don’t see any scenario in which he could make the team at this point.”

Renck said another option would for the Broncos to keep Henderson on the reserve/did not report list, but that would leave the wideout’s future in the NFL in limbo.

“At that point, what does his career look right if he sits out on essentially the first two years of his career?”

Henderson missed much of his rookie season in 2017 with a thumb injury.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.