The Denver Broncos are suddenly back in the market for another receiving threat after already losing someone to a season-ending knee injury. The Broncos announced that tight end Jeff Heuerman would miss the entire 2015 season after suffering a knee injury. The rookie was expected to play a major role in the Broncos' offensive plan after the loss of Julius Thomas and now the Broncos are eyeing options to replace him.
According to the Denver Post, the Broncos will look to bring in someone to help fill the void left by Heuerman, but it is uncertain exactly the type of player they will find. The Broncos re-signed Virgil Green while bringing in the often-injured Owen Daniels to help out, but still need someone else for depth. Head coach Gary Kubiak called the situation with Heuerman very unfortunate as the third-round pick is expected to undergo surgery.
"Very tough. I wish that was me," Kubiak said, via the team's official website. "It was such an unfortunate situation, to just be running down the field and that happened. We're going to miss him. He was going to be a big part of what we're doing. But he's still going to be a big part of what we're doing."
The Broncos have options to help fill the roster spot. They could either aim for another tight end or a slot type of receiver to open up more space. Jermaine Gresham is the best-available tight end on the market. His last two years with the Cincinnati Bengals were forgettable, but he can still be a real threat when healthy. If the Broncos want to go the route of finding a tradition tight end, Gresham is ready to play.
Could Wes Welker still be an option in Denver. The wide receiver's stint with the team was not as great as the Broncos thought it might be and Welker left in free agency without so much as a hint of a potential return. According to NFL.com, Welker has been cleared by concussion specialists and is deemed healthy to play. Welker is already familiar with Manning which could work in the Broncos' benefit. Other options include James Jones, Nick Kasa or a versatile running back like Pierre Thomas.
