Though the caveat still applies — barring setback — Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy appears poised to make his season debut Sunday against Washington.
Jeudy, the fourth-year wide receiver, was a full participant in Denver’s Thursday practice, the first time he’s hit that benchmark since injuring his right hamstring Aug. 24.
Jeudy said last week he felt good and head coach Sean Payton on Wednesday acknowledged that the Broncos considered letting him play against Las Vegas up through a pregame workout.
In the end, they gave him another week. And it appears his return is at hand.
Jeudy, of course, led Denver with 972 receiving yards in 2022 and finished with a flourish, racking up 523 yards over the Broncos’ final six games.
In Denver’s season-opening loss to the Raiders, no wide receiver had more than Courtland Sutton’s four catches and 32 yards.
“Any time you get a player like that and he can be out there, he’s a proven player in the league and he’s an explosive playmaker,” Broncos wide receivers coach Keary Colbert told The Post on Thursday. “I’m excited to see him go to work, and other guys will benefit as well. Other teams are going to be trying to game plan against him and that opens it up for everybody else. It’ll be an exciting time for everybody.”
Clark, Dulcich DNPs. Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich didn’t practice Thursday, an expected development considering he’ll likely miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.
Perhaps more surprising: Outside linebacker Frank Clark was also a DNP Thursday due to a hip issue. Clark wasn’t present during the portion of practice open to reporters, though he was in the locker room after practice.
He had been a limited participant in practice Wednesday, so the downgrade to not participating at all does not bode well for his chances of playing against the Commanders.
Clark played 25 snaps against the Raiders, third-most among Denver’s outside linebackers behind Randy Gregory (40) and Jonathon Cooper (38).
Penner on new ownership committee. Broncos CEO Greg Penner is part of a newly created five-person NFL committee tasked with exploring potential changes to the league’s barriers for club ownership, a source confirmed to The Post.
Penner, as Sports Business Journal first reported, is part of a group appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell that could explore issues like the 30% equity threshold required for ownership, debt limits and perhaps whether to open the door to private equity money in ownership groups.
The committee’s first meeting is later this month.
Penner’s appointment to the select committee is a continuation of the Broncos’ new ownership group ramping up its involvement in league matters. Owner Carrie Walton-Penner serves on two NFL committees, one on the league’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and the other regarding the NFL Foundation.
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