ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jerry Jeudy, the Broncos’ first-round draft pick in 2020, never did emerge as the team’s No. 1 receiver in his four seasons with the team.
He flashed brilliance at times, particularly during two training camps and the final six regular-season games of 2022. Still, it’s fair to suggest Jeudy fell short of expectations, especially when two other big-time receivers – the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson – were selected after his No. 15 draft slot.
But Jeudy has lately been playing like a No. 1 receiver with the Cleveland Browns, where he was traded in March. Jeudy has told people he requested to be traded, which is fine because the Broncos were trading him anyway. They weren’t going to pay him the way the Browns did – $19 million this year – and his independent personality didn’t seem to fit in with new coach Sean Payton’s culture.
Say this for Jeudy: He has been earning his contract lately. In the last four games, which coincides with Jameis Winston taking over as the Browns’ starting quarterback, Jeudy has 24 catches for 379 yards.
He now will play against his former Broncos this Monday night at Empower Field at Mile High.
“My feelings? I just want to go back up there and whip their ass,” Jeudy told Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com.
Where’s Surtain? Anybody seen Pat?
“I think he’s going to be fired up,’’ said Surtain, the Broncos’ – and arguably the NFL’s – No. 1 cover cornerback. “Obviously, this is his past team, so he’s going to have a lot of juice going, a lot of juice flowing. That’s just the type of player he is. He’s very competitive, and he’s going to be looking to get after it.
“I’m looking forward to the matchup. I already know the type of person he is, his competitive structure. He’s going to be ready.”
Grossi asked Jeudy about his time in Denver.
“We ain’t never won nothing,” Jeudy said. “We never go to the playoffs. Been a few frustrating years. Now I’m here. (Four) years a long time to be patient. I’m not going to say they didn’t get me the ball for (four) years. Some years I had a few drops, like my rookie year. Other years there were a whole bunch of circumstances I can’t control.”
What he can control is his occasional one-on-one matchup Monday with Surtain. They played at Alabama together and even in youth football as they grew up 20 minutes apart near Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We had our battles,’’ Surtain said. “We did a lot of 7-on-7 tournaments, so we’ve always been competing since knee-high. So it’s going to be another fun matchup, for sure.”
Kwon to Lions
Once the Broncos picked Zach Cunningham over Kwon Alexander in the veteran competition for No. 3 inside linebacker, the latter became expandable.
Alexander was signed off the Broncos’ practice squad Friday by the Detroit Lions, who lost part-time starter Malcolm Rodriguez to a torn ACL injury in their Thanksgiving Day win against the Bears.
Cunningham, 30 in two weeks, and Alexander, 30 now, were both signed to the Broncos’ practice squad after tackling leader Alex Singleton suffered a season-ending torn ACL in game 3 at Tampa Bay. Alexander was the first to play, as he was elevated from the Broncos’ practice squad a maximum three times, with the 41-10 loss to Baltimore being the last game he played.
Rather than promote Alexander to their 53-man roster once his max three elevations were used, the Broncos instead elevated Cunningham from the practice squad over its next three games. On Wednesday, the Broncos promoted Cunningham to their 53-man roster, leaving Alexander available for the Lions, which is the best team in the NFC.
Moss doesn’t practice
To no surprise, Broncos’ cornerback Riley Moss didn’t practice Friday. It was not a surprise given Payton said Moss suffered a MCL injury Sunday at Las Vegas. MCL injuries usually take four to six weeks of recovery, although Moss’ might be less severe as there was consideration of putting him back in the game Sunday.
If Moss doesn’t play Monday night against Cleveland, veteran Levi Wallace figures to replace him.
