ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Just as the Denver Broncos seemed to have figured out their tight end position, another kink in the hose was added.
In the past few weeks, Denver found a tight end rotation that worked well for them: Starters A.J. Derby and Virgil Green both played above 50 percent of the offensive snaps and backup Jeff Heuerman filled in for about 10 percent of the plays. On Sunday, that equation changed dramatically due to two injuries in that group.
On Monday, Gary Kubiak revealed that both Green and Derby sustained concussions against the New England Patriots and were placed in the concussion protocol. Green left in the first quarter for a possible concussion and did not return, while Derby’s wasn’t discovered until after the game.
“I don’t know what point in the game [Derby sustained his concussion],” Kubiak said on Monday. “I just know after the game [I] came in talked to [head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos], talked to the doctors and said they evaluated him. He and Virgil aren’t here today; they’ve been sent home.”
Heuerman not only filled in for Green midway through the first quarter but also had his presence felt immediately. In his first series of the game, he was targeted three consecutive times, hauling in two of them for 40 yards.
“I’m impressed with what Jeff did,” Kubiak said. “I think we are probably going into the game [thinking] Virgil and A.J. are going to split time [and] Jeff’s going to play a little bit. Ends up Jeff plays 30, 37, 38 plays and we all have to be very encouraged by how he played.”
While Heuerman ended the day with only those two receptions, it was a significant jump from what he had done in the season up to that point. Before Sunday’s game, he only had two receptions on the year and was inactive for five of Denver’s 13 games.
Now, with the uncertainty for both Green and Derby’s status on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, Heuerman will be called upon to be the third round draft pick he was just a year ago.
“Hopefully we will get a lot of work out of him here in the next two weeks, but I’m very encouraged by how he responded,” Kubiak said.
Outside of Green and Derby, Heuerman is the only tight end on the Broncos 53-man roster. They do have two tight ends on the practice squad—Henry Krieger-Coble and Steven Scheu—who would most likely be promoted to the active roster if Green and Derby cannot play, but Heuerman would certainly be the player called upon.
If Derby or Green are not able to play on Sunday against the Chiefs, it would be a major setback for the tight end position. However, it could give Heuerman an opportunity to get his career back on track and help his team make the playoffs.
