Broncos head coach Sean Payton has a no-brainer decision he needs to make on one of Denver’s best players
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has a decision to make, and it should be one of the easiest of his career.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has one of the easiest decisions of his coaching career to make this month.
It’s simple: There is absolutely no reason wide receiver Jaylen Waddle should see the field in any preseason game the rest of the way. It’s just not worth it.
Waddle has already dealt with some injuries during training camp, including a muscle strain that kept him sidelined. The Broncos were fortunate to dodge anything major. But the fact that he’s already been banged up makes this an even simpler call for Payton. Shut him down for the preseason and keep him fresh for the games that actually matter.
Jaylen Waddle is already proving he can be a game changer in Denver
Waddle showed exactly what kind of game changer he can be at Wednesday’s practice when he scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass against superstar cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
That’s all you need to see if you’re Payton.
The goal for Denver is obviously to win every week, but the Broncos have to have Waddle healthy late in the season for a playoff run. Sticking him on the field in a meaningless August game just to get a few reps is not worth the risk of a potential long-term injury.
Even if Waddle gets off to a slow start this season because of a lack of reps in the preseason and training camp, he’ll be fine. He’ll get going through game reps and be right where he needs to be quickly. I think that’s the part people overlook when they argue for more preseason action from star players. A guy like Waddle doesn’t need August snaps to find his rhythm. He needs to be available in December, January, and hopefully February.
Having Waddle healthy for those late-season and playoff games is far more important than any tune-up reps Payton could give him over the next couple of weeks. This one shouldn’t require much thought at all.
