It’s a good thing Brandon Johnson’s dad isn’t pushy.
The Broncos’ receiver made his NFL debut in Saturday’s 17-7 preseason win over Dallas in front of his father, Charles, a two-time major league baseball all-star. Had the elder Johnson, whose catching career included a short stint with the Rockies (2003-04), tried steering his son toward baseball, perhaps the undrafted rookie never would’ve showed out against the Cowboys.
“Never,” Johnson said with an appreciative smile. “He never did. I never wanted to play (baseball), and he never made me. That was always cool.”
In front of his parents, grandparents and cousins, Johnson had four catches (tied for the team-high with Seth Williams) for 64 yards. It didn’t much matter that starters Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy didn’t play, or that quarterback Russell Wilson roamed the sidelines with a headset on instead of a helmet. Johnson seized his moment, taking advantage of his first game situation to make an impression on coach Nathaniel Hackett.
“It was amazing,”’ Johnson said in the postgame locker room. “To feel the energy in the stadium. There was a moment, it almost brought tears to my eyes, just being out here. It’s such a blessing.”
Two moments stuck with the 6-foot-2 Central Florida product. The first came during the national anthem when Johnson began to realize his dream had become reality. The second came 45 seconds into the second quarter, with the Broncos operating from Dallas’ 45-yard line.
Quarterback Josh Johnson lofted an arcing pass down the left sideline. Johnson hauled it in through contact, securing the 40-yard bomb. His highlight catch set up the Broncos’ first touchdown.
“It was like, ‘Wow, like, I’m really here,’ type of moment,” he said.
Johnson was one of a handful of receivers who made the quarterbacks’ lives easier. Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien combined to complete 24 of 41 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns.
Five Broncos receivers had at least two catches.
“All those guys, I thought, did a fine job,” Hackett said. “We were able to throw the ball down the field, we were able to do some precision routes, too, and got a couple of first downs. It’s going to be great competition (at receiver). You love watching guys step up with their opportunity.”
Said Josh Johnson: “Those young guys are doing everything they’re supposed to do to give themselves a chance. That’s the main thing that you don’t see from a lot of young guys in this league.”
Even after Tim Patrick’s ACL tear on Aug. 2, Brandon Johnson’s path to the roster is arduous. He has potentially two more games this preseason to make a case that his size, hands and big-play ability are more valuable than, say, Tyrie Cleveland (who is currently injured), Seth Williams or Jalen Virgil.
Williams caught the first touchdown of the game and Virgil flashed his speed and hands throughout an eventful second half.
Virgil said Hackett acknowledged his strong showing (three catches for 83 yards) in the postgame locker room. As the speedy 24-year-old makes his case to the coaching staff, Virgil recognized how helpful the Broncos’ veterans have been up to this point.
“I wouldn’t even call Jerry and K.J. veterans yet, but pretty much all the guys in the room,” Virgil said. “Everybody has some good tidbits (to share), especially Courtland and Tim, too. They’re like the OGs in the room.”
As a unit, Saturday showcased a deep and talented wide receiver corps, with versatile skillsets and varied strengths.
The Broncos kept five receivers on last year’s initial 53-man roster. Sutton, Jeudy and KJ Hamler are locks this year and rookie Montrell Washington is a good bet because he doubles as the team’s returner.
“(Whether) that’s special teams, that’s blocking, that’s catching the ball, however I can help this team, that’s what I want to do to prove my value to the organization,” Johnson said.
