Bo Nix and Jaylen Waddle finally gave Broncos camp the play everyone had been waiting for.
For most of training camp, Denver fans had been circling the same question: when would the quarterback and his new star receiver actually uncork something big together? Waddle’s injury slowed that process down, and the reps were limited. On Wednesday, though, they delivered the kind of throw-and-catch that can change the mood of an entire practice.
According to people on hand at camp, Nix sent a ball with 50-60 air yards underneath it to Waddle deep downfield, and Waddle came down with it over cornerback Pat Surtain II. That matters because Surtain has given up virtually nothing all camp.
The play drew immediate attention, and for good reason. It was the kind of rep that felt less like a routine training-camp completion and more like a preview of what Denver hoped it was buying when it made the splash trade this offseason.
This was also Waddle’s first week back on the practice field after the injury he suffered earlier in August. Sean Payton said at the time that it was some form of "muscle tightness", and Waddle had been involved in practice while often not wearing a helmet or pads.
Now that he’s back, the next question is how Denver handles him. The Broncos could ease him in, or they could keep his workload light so he’s ready for Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. But Wednesday’s showing suggested he’s beyond just a limited walkthrough type of return.
That’s a welcome development for a receiver group that has already generated plenty of buzz. Pat Bryant has been the offense’s top breakout story so far.
Courtland Sutton looked sharp in the preseason win over the Falcons. Troy Franklin has been making plays, too.
Even with all that momentum, Waddle still feels like the piece that can change the ceiling of the offense. Nix basically described that vision earlier this offseason when he said:
“There’s an element of explosiveness that I think as an offense we’ve lacked for a couple years. We’ve had plenty of explosive plays, plenty of points, all that kind of stuff.
We’ve made great strides, but there was a level of explosiveness that a guy like that adds. So you could be first-and-10 and starting a drive and go one-and-done because he takes it 75, 80 yards.
That’s the kind of weapon that we added, and that’s I think what we all have been out here watching and sort of really enjoy watching."
The Broncos face the Green Bay Packers in Denver on Friday night, and now the focus shifts to whether Waddle gets any preseason game action. If he’s moving the way he did in practice, getting him a small package of plays would make sense.
Maybe that happens. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, Wednesday’s rep gave Broncos camp its clearest glimpse yet of what Nix and Waddle can become together.
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