Rookie Jeudy is only beginning to unlock potential
Rookie wideout Jerry Jeudy checked off a couple notable achievements in the Broncos’ first win of the season: First touchdown catch, and a shoutout from NBA superstar LeBron James.
King James’ exclamation — “JEUDY!!!!!! Moss’d,” LBJ tweeted — came after Jeudy grabbed Brett Rypien’s secondquarter pass off the facemask of Jets cornerback Pierre Desir to give the Broncos their first lead on Thursday. It was exactly the type of electrifying play that Broncos fans have been expecting to see since the moment Denver drafted Jeudy No. 15 overall in April.
Jeudy finished with two catches for 61 yards on Thursday and has 15 receptions for 234 yards at the quarter pole of his rookie season. And while he was admittedly geeked about the shoutout from James — “That’s next level right there,” Jeudy said — the scariest part for the rest of the league is Jeudy’s “Mossing” of Desir may be just the beginning of the speedster unlocking his dangerous NFL potential.
The former Alabama star hasn’t posted a 100- yard receiving game yet — his high is 62 yards in Pittsburgh — but multiple 100- yard games aren’t out of the question for
Jeudy throughout the rest of the season. Courtland Sutton’s season- ending knee injury will undoubtedly lead to more opportunities, and starting quarterback Drew Lock’s imminent return from a shoulder injury should also help.
Jeudy’s been averaging a respectable 15.6 yards per catch this year to lead the Broncos in that category, and his elusive route- running ability has already grown on the professional stage through the first four games. Now, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur needs to find more ways to uncork a guy who appears primed to become an elite receiver.
Sure, though, there’s still things for the 21- year- old to work on.
No more drops — he had two in Week 1, but afterwards vowed those blunders ( one of which potentially cost the Broncos a chance to beat Tennessee) would set a no- drops tone the rest of his season. Then he had another drop in Week 2.
Plus, he and the quarterbacks ( Lock, Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien thus far) must develop better chemistry: Jeudy’s been targeted 28 times but has just a 53.6% catch percentage.