Broncos' receiver Carlos Henderson got an integral part of his arsenal back on Sunday

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Football is hard. NFL football is really hard. NFL football for rookies is really, really hard. NFL football for rookies coming from a conference outside of the Power 5 is really, really, really hard.

The latter is the challenge that Denver Broncos third-round pick Carlos Henderson is facing, and in the early going of camp, the difficulty of the transition has shown. On Saturday, head coach Vance Joseph said the rookie wideout was “trying too hard,” and it’s been obvious so far that the kid is in pretty deep.

Henderson comes from Conference USA’s Louisiana Tech, where he dominated. The running back turned wide receiver averaged nearly 19 yards per catch and led the nation in missed tackles forced, with 48.

As a Bulldog, Henderson was a man among boys. As a Bronco, he’s merely a man among men. One look at him tells you he has all the physical tools in the world. He’s built like a statue, but as he is quickly learning, the NFL is a different animal.

“I’ve kind of had a slow start,” Henderson admitted to BSN Denver on Sunday afternoon. “I’m still trying to get the plays down pat and everything, but I’m grinding day in and day out and I’m getting better every day on what I need to get better on.”

Sunday, though, may have served as a catalyst to Henderson’s breakout. Why, exactly? Well, the tackle-breaker got an important piece of his arsenal back.

“The game is played in pads. I need the pads,” the rookie said. “I’m that type of player, tough, physical runner. When the pads come on, that’s when you can show your toughness, what you can do, and if you’re a football player or not… It’s always good to put pads on.”

It’s not exactly normal for a skill player—especially a wide receiver—to prefer putting on pads, but Henderson isn’t exactly a normal receiver. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder thrives in the open field, where his pads become his shield as well as his weapon.

On Sunday, his comfort in full armor showed when he caught a third-down pass from Paxton Lynch on a short cross, accelerated to the sideline, cut upfield and made multiple defenders miss for a big gain.

“There you go, 11!” The head coach yelled, encouraging his developing weapon.

It was the first time all camp that Henderson had truly flashed his potential.

“I’m getting more comfortable, and I’m starting to play a little bit faster every day,” he said after practice, his confidence clearly heading in the right direction. “I’m getting more comfortable in the schemes, the plays, where to line up, everything.”

Whether he truly feels best in the pads or he simply needed something, anything to give him a mental boost, Carlos Henderson took a small step forward on Sunday, and that’s good news for a Broncos offense still in a desperate search for a third weapon in the air.