Jerry Jeudy responds to Steve Smith feud and trade rumors

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jerry Jeudy had a tough night last Thursday.

In a road game under the lights against the Chiefs, he only caught three passes for 14 yards. He’d produced more offense in 40 of his 45 other career games. To add insult to injury, his Broncos lost 16-9 and left Kansas City with a 1-5 record.

But the worst part of his night might have come before the game even started.

Steve Smith Sr., a three-time All-Pro receiver who is now an analyst for NFL Network, approached Jeudy before the game to apologize for calling him “just a guy” on his podcast. Jeudy made it clear to Smith that he wasn’t interested in having a conversation. Smith relayed on NFL Network that Jeudy used multiple curse words. Then Smith ranted that Jeudy is a Tier 3 receiver and that other teams shouldn’t trade for him. While Smith was broadcasting, Jeudy danced in the background of the shot.

On Thursday, Jeudy spoke publicly about the incident for the first time.

“Where I’m from, when someone talks bad about you behind your back, don’t expect to come to them in person and think everything’s going to be okay,” Jeudy told reporters. “If you feel some type of way, keep that same energy when you see me in person. I don’t got nothing against him or anything. That’s just how I feel.”

Jeudy added that if he had known Smith was trying to apologize for what he said when Smith approached him before the game, he may have responded differently.

“If I would have knew he would apologize, of course I would have reacted different,” Jeudy said. “At the same time, I knew someone was talking bad about me. I told him what it is and moved on from there. He wanted to take it to the media and stuff and make it bigger than it needed to be.”

Jeudy regrets his role in the situation.

“I should have just listened to what he had to say,” Jeudy said. “But at the same time, I’m going back to my roots and where I’m from. Once somebody talks bad about you behind your back, don’t expect to come to them in person and think everything is going to be okay.”

Jeudy is off to a slow start in 2023. His 44.4 yards per game is the worst mark of his career.

“You could be open, but the line don’t do their thing, the quarterback didn’t do the job, the OC don’t put you in a — it’s a whole lot of stuff that we’ve gotta go through as a receiver to be successful,” Jeudy said.

Trade rumors have swirled around Jeudy for years. The Broncos reportedly asked for a first-round pick in exchange for Jeudy this spring. Given the Broncos’ slow start to the season, Jeudy’s name has been floated in potential trades as often as any player in the NFL.

He says the rumors don’t bother him.

“It doesn’t affect me at all,” Jeudy said. “At the end of the day, I’m still gonna be the player that I am. I know what I can do, and I know what I’m capable of. Trade me or don’t trade me. It doesn’t matter because at the end of the day, I’m still going to be me.”

The NFL’s trade deadline is Oct. 31.