Pritchard: Rookie RB Phillip Lindsay is the MVP of the 2018 Broncos

Dec 19, 2018, 1:45 PM Updated: 1:49 pm

After going largely unnoticed in college, after not being invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, after not being drafted, Denver Broncos rookie Phillip Lindsay final got some recognition Tuesday, as he was named to the 2019 AFC Pro Bowl roster.

But on Wednesday, “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Mike Pritchard said Lindsay deserves another honor, that the prolific runner “clearly is the MVP” of the 2018 Broncos.

“Everything, when Phillip Lindsay is on the field, spells out and tells me that he’s the MVP of this team,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard said he doesn’t know where this Broncos team would be without Lindsay and that “he’s meant everything” to the club.

“It’s trembling to think about the Broncos without Phillip Lindsay,” said Pritchard’s co-host, Cecil Lammey.

Lindsay led the way for the Broncos youth movement, Pritchard said, and he helped an offensive line unit riddled with injuries flourish.

Without Lindsay, Pritchard said, the Broncos don’t go on a three-game winning streak and, in fact, could have been as low as a two-win team.

“… Without Phillip Lindsay, the Broncos don’t even get back into a competitive situation,” Pritchard said.

In 14 games this season — and just seven starts — Lindsay has rushed for 991 yards on 182 attempts (5.5 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. He’s the only NFL running back currently ranked in the top five in rushing yards, rushing average, and rushing touchdowns.

With just nine more yards rushing, Lindsay can become the sixth Broncos rookie to cross the 1,000-yard mark for a single season and just the third undrafted rookie in NFL history to do so.

Through the air, Lindsay has contributed 33 receptions for 230 yards and a touchdown.

“All Phillip Lindsay has done is prove people wrong,” Lammey said.

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