Lucas Krull has been the Denver Broncos‘ most productive tight end this season, yet his stat line is underwhelming: 6 catches for 57 yards.
Greg Dulcich (5 catches for 28 yards), a former third-round pick, has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks. Nate Adkins (four catches for 19 yards) is used more as a blocker than as a receiver. Adam Trautman is listed as the starting tight end on the depth chart, but he only has two catches for 32 yards.
Things could turn around against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers defense has allowed the 12th-most yards (366) and the most touchdowns (four) to tight ends this season.
So, can the Broncos get their tight ends more involved this week?
“It’s a great question,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “I think it’s one of the quarterback’s allies because generally, you get some of these coverages that they aren’t necessarily doubling the outside, but the individual matchups are in the triangle inside with the runner and the tight end.
“There was one play where he [Bo Nix] is climbing and we just missed Lucas. We’re one play away from not having to answer that question, but it’s a good question. We’ll keep working that.”
Krull seems to be the team’s best receiving tight end, so if any of them are going to have a breakout against Carolina, he’s the top candidate.
“[We’re] just playing what the defense gives you,” Nix said when asked about Krull’s role on offense. “If they give us those opportunities, we’ll continue to take it. I thought he had a great catch down the middle of the field. We’re doing a good job of spreading the ball out throughout the offense. A lot of guys are getting touches. Some guys at times get a lot, some guys don’t get many and then the next game, it feels like it flips.
“That part is good because the defense doesn’t necessarily know who we’re targeting. Anybody’s up for the ball on any given play. All the position groups, we are going to continue to get better and work. We could have some stuff happen for us in the future.”
That diplomatic answer from Nix didn’t reveal any of the game plan going into the Panthers game, but if one of Denver’s tight ends is going to have a big game, this week’s matchup could be the stage for it.
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