ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It's not always easy for a player to continue positive momentum in the sport of football.
Devaughn Vele, a rookie from Utah, had eight catches for the Denver Broncos in his NFL debut last week at Seattle. Vele won't play in game 2. A rib injury kept Vele out of practice this week and he was listed as OUT for the game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the final injury report.
Even had Vele not been ruled out, there was a good chance the Broncos would have given a uniform to another rookie receiver, Troy Franklin, for the game against the Steelers.
The Broncos employed four receivers -- Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Vele -- against Seattle. There is a big-body, possession-type sameness to that foursome. This week against the Steelers, Broncos head coach Sean Payton talked about getting more than 12 snaps for Marvin Mims Jr., a speed receiver.
And it appears Franklin, who was inactive against the Seahawks, will also be availabe against the Steelers.
"Oh yeah for sure,'' Franklins told 9NEWS in front of his locker Friday. " My first opportunity, first time to go out there and showcase my talents and help my team out."
Franklin was the top target for Broncos' quarterback Bo Nix the previous two years when both were at Oregon. Franklin amassed 152 catches for 2,274 yards and 23 touchdowns in those two seasons with Nix at Oregon.
Any difference in the connection between the pair now that they're in the NFL? Aside from, you know, much better cornerbacks.
"I think that's the biggest thing,'' Franklin said with a smile. "Other than that we're making sure we're getting the connection down and that's with all the receivers. That's the biggest part right now is making sure we're all on the same page and complementing each other."
Meanwhile, a few other banged-up Broncos have healed in time to play against the Steelers. Left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle/calf), center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and No. 2 receiver Reynolds (sore Achilles) all missed practice Wednesday, returned on a limited basis Thursday, and were full participants in practice Friday and did not get a final injury designation on the report.
