ENGLEWOOD, Colo — For clarity, it wasn’t the long-troubled hamstring that has kept tight end Greg Dulcich away from offseason practices.
It was a foot injury that eventually required surgery to repair, sources tell 9NEWS. The surgery was performed early in the offseason -- well before the start of free agency in March -- and Dulcich, who has remained dedicated to his rehabilitation despite two years of frustrations, is expected back soon.
Dulcich was spotted working out on the Broncos’ side field during team’s OTA practice Thursday and there’s a chance he can join his teammates on the practice field before the offseason program concludes June 13.
“He’s close,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on May 23. “We’re encouraged. […] It’s not going to be, we don’t see him until training camp.”
The Broncos’ third-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2022, Dulcich has battled hamstring problems through his first two NFL seasons. He had seemed to get his hamstring healed enough to begin practicing last Dec. 13, 2023 with fingers crossed he could help the Broncos in their final three games.
But in his first full practice back last December, Dulcich’s foot swelled up.
After Dulcich consulted with multiple foot specialists, surgery was the recommended course. Since Day 1, Dulcich has done everything asked of him according to those close to his situation. He has never missed a rehab session, staying in Denver to work and rehab while so many other players left during breaks.
No one has been more frustrated with his injury situation than Dulcich himself. Perhaps, the third season will charm Dulcich – as it did another talented Broncos tight end from a decade ago. Julius Thomas was a fourth-round draft pick in 2011 who missed most of his first two seasons with an ankle injury. He then exploded in 2013 and 2014 for a combined 98 receptions and 24 touchdowns.
Dulcich displayed tantalizing talent in 10 games as a rookie, recording 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns. But he finished that season on injured reserve with his recurring hamstring issue. He bounced back to become the star of the Broncos' 2023 offseason, but he went down in the season opener against the Raiders with a hamstring strain. Just as hamstring was deemed healed in mid-December, his foot developed a problem.
With Dulcich out this offseason because of the foot injury, Lucas Krull has asserted himself as the Broncos’ top tight end receiving option. Krull had 8 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ final five games last season. Adam Trautman is the Broncos’ starting tight end who is a strong blocker and second receiver option from the position.
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