Broncos TE LaCosse gets opportunity to prove himself against Kansas City
The news tore Matt LaCosse up inside that teammate Jake Butt tore his ACL a third time. The tight ends group practiced Thursday afternoon without No. 80 and LaCosse said “it was rough because you didn’t know what was going on and didn’t know how he was doing.” Yet, life in the NFL doesn’t stop. It’s next man up.
Butt’s seasonlong absence means Denver is without arguably its most dynamic passcatching tight end.
LaCosse will try to prove how he can fill the role starting Monday night against Kansas City.
“As sad as Jake’s injury is, it’s my job to help this team step up,” LaCosse said, “and play to the best of my ability.”
Don’t feel ashamed, Broncos Country, if you’re not totally filled in on the 6foot6, 255pound tight end in his third NFL season. LaCosse called his path to this moment, “pretty unique,” before laying out each step.
1. Undrafted from Illinois in 2015, signed to the Giants, tore his hamstring the first day of camp and cut.
2. Signed with the Jets, cut three days later, and moved back home (Naperville, Ill.) for about six weeks. “Doing nothing,” LaCosse said, “interviewing for jobs and thinking, ‘Ah, crap. Did I just ruin my NFL dream?’ ”
3. Signed back to the Giants
practice squad, promoted to the active roster and caught three passes in his NFL rookie debut. “Sunday night in Minnesota,” LaCosse said, “about six degrees.” A torn MCL the following preseason and then cut by New York in Year 3.
4. Signed to the Broncos last December and appeared in three games. LaCosse scored two receiving touchdowns in 2018 exhibition play and made Denver’s 53man roster.
“Matt’s done a nice job in preseason, he made some plays for us,” offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. “I know he has a prominent specialteams role also on our team. So, he’s important to us and we’ll utilize him more than we had planned.”
Of course, replacing Butt’s production will require a team effort. LaCosse’s promotion opens the Broncos’ third tight end slot. Brian Parker, a secondyear pro, undrafted from Albany, appears a viable option from the practice squad, although the Broncos could look elsewhere to bolster their depth. Coach Vance Joseph said there are “options” that are “being discussed right now.”
One certainty? Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman‘s role in the passing game is bound to expand. Denver utilizes his talent often as an inline blocker, but quarterback Case Keenum has also targeted Heuerman eight times through three games. Heuerman, in his fourth year with the Broncos, responded with five catches for 32 yards.
“(Heuerman) has always been a pretty good passcatcher,” Joseph said. “Now, without Jake, obviously his targets should go up a little bit, but he’s done a great job in the past, especially in the red zone.”
LaCosse received a taste of NFL regular season play as a rookie and then patiently waited his turn for another opportunity to catch a pass and help his team win. The chance has finally arrived.
“Preseason has been my time to shine. That’s when I’ve showed up and played well,” LaCosse said. “Now, it’s my time to do it on Monday night.”