Sutton Is Latest Receiver To Join Broncos Frustration Party

The list of Denver Broncos players who are having issues with the offense is both long and comprehensive, and possession receiver Courtland Sutton became the latest one to join the growing crowd, according to a report from Sam Jane of the Denver Post. 

Sutton is usually one of the Broncos most reliable receivers, but not this year. He’s off to what Jane called the worst start of his career, and Sutton was seen pounding his fists into the ground multiple times after taking a shot in the ribs and dropping a third-down pass from quarterback Bo Nix.

This is how it’s been going for the Broncos on offense lately. The Broncos traded for a new No. 1 receiver in Jaylen Waddle, and he and Sutton have barely made an impact, per Jane, who added that  both are on pace to set lows in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. 

The numbers are both stark and damning. Before this season, Sutton averaged 25 catches for 361 yards in the Broncos’ first six games, according to the writer, but he’s totaled just 13 catches for 123 yards so far this season.

Waddle has played in a total of 84 NFL games to date, and four of his 10 lowest single-game receiving yardage totals — and five of his 20 lowest — have come in his first six games with the Broncos.

There hasn’t been a lot of finger-pointing before the Broncos’ offense-less win over the Seattle Seahawks, but it’s starting with a vengeance now. The culprit is Nix, who was called out for a”garbage” performance against the Seahawks by Prime Video analyst and former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

The technical part of this isn’t all that hard to figure out, either. Nix isn’t pushing the ball downfield, where both Sutton and Waddle have been most effective. Per Jane, Denver’s passing offense has largely been reduced to checkdowns to running backs and tight ends, often for short gains near the sidelines.

The Broncos are seeing a pair of high safeties on passing downs, and they simply haven’t been able to make them pay so far. The running game hasn’t been nearly effective enough to force defenses out of that look, which means Sutton and Waddle have little room to operate. 

The Broncos’ mantra on all this is “working on it.” It’s a sensible reponse to the frustrations, and they’re still 4-2, but right now the offense that produced a 14-3 record last year is just a distant memory.