Evans calls on Broncos to utilize running back Phillip Lindsay more

Coming off AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, it might seem difficult to call for the Denver Broncos to get Phillip Lindsay the ball more often.

But “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mike Evans argued on Wednesday that if the Broncos offense is below-average and the team likely needs to win out to make the postseason, Lindsay should be utilized more.

“Coming down the stretch, theoretically needing out four games with an offense that is a below-average offense, doesn’t it make sense that your best offensive player should be used more?” Evans asked.

When calling for more touches for Lindsay, Evans said it’s not necessarily more carries but, instead, more passes.

“Whether it is by design, whether it is because they try but they’re just not good at it, figure it out,” Evans said of the Broncos throwing to running backs. “Because you’ve got a weapon in Phillip Lindsay that, as great as he’s been, I don’t think he’s being fully tapped as to what he can do.”

While Lindsay has 937 yards on the ground on 154 rushes for an average of 6.1 yards per carry, his 25 receptions on 32 targets rank well below his running back peers.

Among all running backs, Lindsay ranks 31st in the NFL in targets, behind the likes of fullback Kyle Juszczyk and his own teammate Devontae Booker.

“He’s being grossly underutilized in that area. So, I challenge Bill Musgrave, I challenge Case Keenum, find a way,” Evans said.

And the idea of getting Lindsay in space with the football excites Evans’ co-host, Mark Schlereth.

“The explosiveness with which we’ve seen Phillip Lindsay play with, getting him the ball in space, that seems like a really good idea to me,” Schlereth said on Wednesday.

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