Fant clear on expectations: “I’ve got to produce”
Rookie tight end set to play a lot as team deals with injuries
Rookie tight end Noah Fant walked into the Broncos locker room after the first practice back from 53-man roster cuts this past weekend and the stark reality of the NFL hit home.
Make plays or get sent home. “It’s a different feeling,” he said, “a lot of empty lockers.”
Fant was never in jeopardy of being released as Denver traded back to draft him No. 20 overall last spring. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, snagged 19 touchdown catches at Iowa and continues to build muscle on an athletic 6-foot-4, 249-pound frame. But a rash of injuries at the tight end position during training camp and the anticipation of heavy tight end use in new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s scheme has amplified expectations on him heading into Week 1 at the Raiders.
“He’ll be out there a lot,” coach Vic Fangio said, “so hopefully some of the targets will go his way.”
Fant didn’t quite walk off the NFL draft stage as a pro-ready tight end and his progression played out over the course of preseason play. Fant’s first target in the exhibition opener against the Falcons? A perfectly thrown dart from now-former Broncos quarterback Kevin Hogan that went through Fant’s outstretched arms, bounced off his chest and hit the turf.
Two games later versus the 49ers, Fant caught a swing pass from quarterback Joe Flacco, juked 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and ran 11 yards before two San Francisco defenders dragged him down.
“It’s just experience,” Fant said. “I could tell it was a landslide of a difference from my first preseason game to the last game I played. Things were slowing down and it was a lot easier to go through my progressions.”
Fant did not enjoy the benefit of learning behind an established veteran in training camp with fourth-year pro Jeff Heuerman, Denver’s longest-tenured tight end, missing significant time with a shoulder injury. The Broncos’ tight end depth was slashed with Jake Butt (knee) placed on injured reserve to begin the season and Austin Fort sidelined indefinitely with an ACL tear. Fant has had
practices with the first-team offense since Day 1.
“I’ve had to be a fast learner in that aspect,” he said, “and get used to it on the go.”
But not without consequences.
“I think that wore (Fant) down a little at times,” Scangarello said. “He’s trying to learn and think and play. I think it’s slowing down. He’s playing faster. I thought in the (49ers) game he really took a step forward. We’ve got to continue to take steps forward. I think we’re got ourselves a heck of a tight end.”
Added fellow tight end Jeff Heuerman: “He’s adjusting to the NFL speed, and he’s doing a good job.”
When asked to define a successful regular-season debut on “Monday Night Football,” Fant kept it simple and said: “As few mental errors as possible.”
Fant finished the preseason with five catches for 28 yards and no touchdowns after sitting out the final two exhibition games (precautionary for a since-healed foot injury).
An emptied-out locker room after training camp reminded Fant what is at stake when a player doesn’t perform.
“I’ve got to produce,” he said. “If they’re giving me that opportunity, then I need to go out there and make the best of it. It relies on my play and what I do. I’ve been able to put some good practices together and some decent things together throughout the preseason. Now, it’s time to take that to another level in the regular season.”