In addition to the knee surgery KJ Hamler underwent after suffering a torn ACL in Week 3, the young Broncos wide receiver needed a hip operation.
Hamler suffered the hip injury on the same play he tore the ACL, and Mike Klis of 9News notes the Broncos initially feared the former second-round pick suffered a Bo Jackson-type injury. It turned out not to be in that ballpark, one that saw Jackson’s football career end and eventual hip-replacement surgery become necessary.
The Broncos’ No. 4 wideout has long been reported ahead of schedule in his rehab. News of this hip procedure adds to the remarkability of the Penn State product being in position to catch passes from Russell Wilson shortly after the quarterback’s arrival. Hamler is not yet a full participant in Broncos offseason workouts, though Klis notes he is running and cutting at full speed, but he expects to be ready for full work in training camp. This was Hamler’s second ACL tear; he suffered the first during his senior year of high school.
Denver included Noah Fant in the Wilson trade but kept its top four wide receivers. With Jerry Jeudy a former top-15 pick and Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick now attached to eight-figure-per-year deals, Hamler is positioned to be an off-the-bench contributor. Jeudy and Sutton’s injury trouble in recent years, and the Broncos’ interest in seeing what they have in Hamler, should lead to the speed merchant receiving extensive work in his third season. The 5-foot-9 wideout caught 30 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2020.
Zero confidence this guy will ever stay healthy.
If he can, he’ll be the most dangerous receiver on the field. Trying to watch both Wilson and this guy running outs or even slant would be real trouble.
The Broncos really do have the best WR room in terms of potential. Other than Sutton, who had an injury shorten his nascent rise, none are proven. But they all LOOK like they could be great. Whether or not they can stay healthy enough is another story. Unfortunately some of them (Jeudy and Hamler, now that Hamilton is gone) aren’t very large, so taking future punishment might derail what potentially could be great careers.
Having Wilson under center, rather than Lock, should help, at least Jeudy and Hamler.
Lots of hype, but little performance from this guy thus far. The Broncos QB situation clouded the water a bit, but Hamler’s catch percentage as compared to other Bronco receivers shows he is nothing more than a backup, i.e., he’s got more critical drops than highlight plays.