Pritchard: Can Butt, Ray returns send Broncos packing for Super Bowl?
Oct 12, 2017, 11:00 PM | Updated: Oct 13, 2017, 2:02 pm
Competition at every position on the Denver Broncos will make them Super Bowl ready.
It started during training camp when new head coach Vance Joseph declared a quarterback battle between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. It has now moved to the tight end position and the outside linebacker position with the return of Jake Butt and Shane Ray, respectively.
This week, the Broncos announced both players would start practicing next Monday.
“Jake Butt is doing great. He’s going to practice Monday along with Shane Ray,” Joseph said. “We’re excited about those two guys coming back on Monday to practice.”
And Broncos fans should be excited too because of the firepower these two players can bring to the team.
Fan Football Insider Cecil Lammey, and my co-host on “Pritchard & Cecil,” said this week that he had a “first-round grade” on Butt. But Denver snagged the Michigan star much later in this year’s NFL Draft, as he fell to the fifth round following a torn ACL suffered in December.
If Lammey is right, Butt’s upside would bring a much-needed dimension to the Broncos offense, not to mention his talent should raise the level of play from the other tight ends, as they would all have to compete for playing time.
Ray is an experienced player with big-play potential.
Shaq Barrett, who will be a restricted free agent after the season, has been tremendous for Denver in Ray’s absence. And Ray’s return will undoubtedly create a tough decision for the coaches about playing time for these two players.
It will also force the coaching staff to be creative and find ways to play both players at the same time.
This versatility will be a nightmare for any opposing offense and presents the opportunity for the Broncos defense to get some points on the board.
So far over the first five weeks of the 2017 season, we have seen key players go down with injuries throughout the NFL. The Broncos have been fortunate to avoid any, however, while getting stronger with talented players returning from the physically unable to perform list.
What a luxury to have and what an unbelievable position to be in. Now, all that needs to happen is for the Broncos to commit to getting better each week.
Is it too early to pack for Minnesota?
