‘Inspired’ play nudges Demaryius Thomas up Broncos record books
Dec 11, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: 1:01 am
For Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, it was only about making the best of his opportunities on Sunday.
Though he had eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, Sunday’s 23-0 win at home over the New York Jets wasn’t Thomas’ top game this season — a statistically down year for the five-time Pro Bowler.
But his “inspired” played not only helped Denver kick an eight-game losing streak but also put him in sole possession of second place in the Broncos record books for receiving yards (8,475) and touchdown receptions (56).
“He played inspired football. I challenged those guys last night, all of our team leaders, to play better football. He came out and he played inspired football,” head coach Vance Joseph said after the game.
“He’s second all-time in Broncos history with yards and touchdowns. It speaks to his career, but today, he played inspired for us.”
Thomas, who Joseph revealed earned a game ball for his efforts Sunday, surpassed Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and trails only Rod Smith in both categories.
“I think the world of him,” quarterback Trevor Siemian said after the game. “He’s such a good player. … People don’t see the injuries he plays through, how tough he is, how good of a player he is and how much respect I have for him. He’s a better teammate and a better guy if you’ve gotten to know him.
“I couldn’t be happier for him.”
But when asked after the game if he felt as if he played “inspired,” like Joseph said, Thomas replied: “I think I’ve been playing like that all season.”
“I just got more opportunities and took advantage of them. We went out as a team today, and we came out with a win as a group. Like I said, I took advantage of my opportunities,” Thomas said.
Moving up the all-time Broncos receiving lists “means the world” to Thomas, but he said it’s a bittersweet accolade.
“It means the world, but the only thing that bothers me right now is still that we didn’t make the playoffs,” Thomas said. “You’ve just got to build from it and keep going.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
