Broncos' rookie receiver scheduled for surgery

Rookie wide receiver Carlos Henderson is set to undergo surgery after injuring his thumb during the Broncos’ first preseason game of the year, as originally reported by Mike Klis of KUSA. The procedure is scheduled for Sunday.

The Broncos selected Henderson in the third round of this year’s draft. He played three seasons at Louisiana Tech, where he totaled 147 receptions, 2,878 yards and 28 touchdowns. 1,535 of those yards and 19 of the touchdowns came during the 2016 season.

At 5-foot-11 and just under 200 pounds, Henderson projects as a slot receiver in the NFL, with the ability to beat cornerbacks up the seam and rack up yards after the catch. After a slow start to training camp, Henderson stepped it up a notch once the team began practicing in pads. While some of his explosive potential was on display, he still sits well behind Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler for the third wide receiver job. He is also a candidate for the starting kick returner job.

There is not yet timetable for Henderson’s return, but any time missed will make finding playing time even tougher for the rookie.