Greg Dulcich – Page 2 – Syndication Server

7 players did not play in Broncos’ win vs. Saints

The Broncos held out seven players from Thursday’s game against the Saints, including CB Pat Surtain, who is recovering from a concussion.

Seven members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 33-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Pat Surtain (concussion), offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle), cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike and tight end Greg Dulcich were inactive in Week 7.

Wilson was inactive but was still dressed as an emergency third quarterback.

Jarrett Stidham, Denver’s primary backup quarterback, made his 2024 debut when he entered the game late in the fourth quarter for kneel-downs. After Stidham entered the game, all of the Broncos’ active players had seen the field on TNF.

Broncos who did not play in Week 7

QB Zach Wilson (emergency third QB)
CB Pat Surtain (concussion)
OT Alex Palczewski (ankle)
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
TE Greg Dulcich
OLB Dondrea Tillman
DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Denver waived running back Blake Watson on Thursday, but if he clears waivers, the Broncos are expected to re-sign him to the practice squad.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos inactives: 7 players won’t play on ‘Thursday Night Football’

Broncos inactives today: Zach Wilson*, Pat Surtain, Kris Abrams-Draine, Alex Palczewski, Greg Dulcich, Dondrea Tillman and Eni Uwazurike.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints in Week 7.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster. Wilson can play if both Nix and Stidham are injured.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Saints. They will be reactivated following the game.

Broncos inactives on TNF

QB Zach Wilson*
CB Pat Surtain (concussion)
OT Alex Palczewski (ankle)
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
TE Greg Dulcich
OLB Dondrea Tillman
DL Eyioma Uwazurike

The Broncos’ game against the Saints will be available to stream on Prime Video. Fans who watch on mobile devices can stream Thursday Night Football for free on Twitch.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

9 players did not play in Broncos’ game vs. Chargers

Nine Broncos players did not play on Sunday while Audric Estime and Devaughn Vele returned and Eyioma Uwazurike made his 2024 debut.

Nine members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, running back Blake Watson, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, safety JL Skinner, defensive back Keidron Smith, offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle) and tight end Greg Dulcich were inactive in Week 6.

Everyone except Palczewski was a healthy scratch. Despite being inactive, Wilson still dressed as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback on Sunday.

Bo Nix played every snap on offense, so primary backup Jarrett Stidham also did not play, and backup offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton was not called into action. That gave the Broncos nine total players who did not see the field against the Chargers.

Broncos who did not play in Week 6

QB Zach Wilson (emergency third QB)
RB Blake Watson
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
DB JL Skinner
DB Keidron Smith
OT Alex Palczewski (ankle)
TE Greg Dulcich
QB Jarrett Stidham (active)
OL Calvin Throckmorton (active)

Audric Estime returned at running back after being activated from injured reserve, defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was active for the first time this season and Devaughn Vele was back in the lineup after missing the last four games. Up next is a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints in Week 7.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

6 players did not play in Broncos’ big win over Raiders

Six Broncos players did not play against the Raiders, including TE Greg Dulcich, who was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Six members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 34-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, tight end Greg Dulcich, wide receiver Devaughn Vele, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike were inactive in Week 5.

All five players were healthy scratches, including Dulcich, who was benched after failing to impress through the team’s first four games.

Despite being inactive, Wilson still dressed as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback on Sunday. Bo Nix played every snap on offense, so primary backup Jarrett Stidham also did not play, giving Denver six total players who did not see the field against the Raiders.

Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about Vele being a healthy scratch in recent games last Friday.

“He’s playing sooner than later,” Payton said. “He’s doing well. He’s doing well.”

Vele will have to wait at least one more week.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Sean Payton hints at potential personnel changes for Broncos

“We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Two weeks into the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos are struggling to move the ball and score points.

Broncos coach Sean Payton has attributed those struggles to several factors, including his own scheme and play-calling. Payton has also said Denver might be rotating in too many different players, and he seemed to hint that some personnel changes could be on the way.

“I just finished telling the coaches that that side of the ball needs to get cleaned up,” Payton said after a 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. “That starts with me. We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what. It was frustrating because there were certain elements that went according to plan field position-wise. Our inability to score and convert third downs ultimately hurt us.”

Broncos running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have averaged 2.28 yards per carry this season, and improving the ground game is a point of emphasis this week.

Denver’s passing attack hasn’t been much better.

“When you run a play and it has success, you look at the pieces,” Payton said. “When you run a play and it does not have success, are we putting our guys in the best position? We are rotating a lot of different personnel groups in and out. I do not know if that is helping us quite honestly. We need to evaluate that closely relative to our personnel.”

Payton said Wednesday that he thinks “reducing the variables” could help the offense, perhaps by simplifying the offense and using fewer personnel groups. The coach might also make changes to the specific players involved.

“It’s something that I think you have to look at as a coach,” Payton said. “You have to start, ‘All right, what could we do better?’ I think that’s one of the things that we’ve talked about quite a bit. How do we reduce the variables, and then who’s doing it? Those two things I would point to.”

Payton did not mention any specific players by name, but tight end Greg Dulcich has struggled as a blocker and dropped two passes on Sunday, and the team’s receivers have been unremarkable while Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin have barely seen the field.

Already 0-2, the team now has a tough road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on deck. Changes could be coming for the desperate Broncos.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 13-6 loss to Steelers

Here are five quick takeaways from the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers in Week 2.

The Denver Broncos dropped to 0-2 on Sunday afternoon following an ugly 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High. Here are five quick takeaways from the team’s latest defeat.

1. The run game is a mess: For the second straight week, quarterback Bo Nix ended the day as Denver’s leading rusher (four carries for 25 yards). Javonte Williams rushed 11 times for 17 yards with an awful 1.5 yards per carry average. Jaleel McLaughlin wasn’t much better, rushing three times for six yards. Either the backs aren’t running well, the offensive line isn’t blocking well, or defenses aren’t respecting Nix and selling out to stop the run. Perhaps it’s a combination of all three factors. Whatever’s to blame, Broncos coach Sean Payton needs to fix it quickly.

2. Greg Dulcich is running out of opportunities: After two injury-plagued seasons, Dulcich is finally healthy, but he’s not contributing much on offense. Dulchich remains a liability as a blocker and he had two poor drops on Sunday. The tight end only hauled in three catches for 16 yards on eight targets. Denver has to consider making Lucas Krull active next week — it’s hard to imagine Krull playing any worse than Dulcich at this point.

3. Kristian Welch won a role quickly: Just days after joining the Broncos, Welch ate into Cody Barton’s snaps in Week 1. Denver’s staff must have liked what they saw because Welch got the start against the Steelers in Week 2. Welch finished the game with two tackles and Barton rotated into the game, adding six tackles. Time will tell if one of Barton or Welch can lock down the inside linebacker job.

4. Sean Payton made questionable decisions: Trailing the Steelers by 13 points in the fourth quarter, Payton opted to kick a 34-yard field goal instead of attempting to convert a 4th-and-6 at Pittsburgh’s 16-yard line. After that field goal, the Broncos still needed two possessions to tie or take the lead. Had the team failed to pick up a fourth down, they still would have needed two possessions. Later in the game, after making it 13-6 with another field goal, Denver kicked it deep despite being past the two-minute warning with only one timeout left. After forcing a punt, the Broncos did end up getting the ball back with nine seconds, but that wasn’t enough time for a comeback. Payton opting to kick a field goal and his later deciding to not attempt an onside kick were curious decisions.

5. Bo Nix needs a lot more time: Through two games in the NFL, Nix now has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions, including a terrible interception in the red zone and a game-clinching turnover on the last play of Sunday’s game. Nix also made numerous inaccurate passes on Sunday. Fans in Denver can only hope it’s rookie jitters for the quarterback. There’s a lot of room for improvement for Nix going forward.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich comments on drops: ‘It’s unacceptable’

“I obviously had two drops, and it’s unacceptable,” Broncos TE Greg Dulcich said. “I have to correct those things.”

The first step to fixing a problem is identifying it.

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich has step one down.

After the team’s 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dulcich was asked about the offense’s struggles.

“We’ve got to make the plays when they’re there,” Dulcich said. “I obviously had two drops, and it’s unacceptable. I have to correct those things.”

https://twitter.com/ZacStevensDNVR/status/1835466510199832944

Dulcich was targeted a team-high eight times against the Steelers but he ended the game with just three receptions for 16 yards. The Broncos now find themselves in an 0-2 hole going to a stretch of back-to-back road games on the East Coast.

“Yeah, we’ve got to get things rolling,” Dulcich said. “We have to make the plays that are in front of us and play better football.”

After hauling in 33 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 10 games in 2022, Dulcich missed all but two games due to injury last fall. The 24-year-old tight end is healthy now, but his performance is lacking. Denver’s offense needs to improve across the board, Dulcich included.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

10 things to watch for when Broncos face Seahawks in Week 1

Bo Nix will make his first NFL start against the Seahawks on Sunday. Here are 10 things to watch for when the Broncos travel to Seattle.

The Denver Broncos are set to go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Going into the weekend, here’s a quick look at ten things to watch for on Sunday.

1. NFL’s new kickoff format: The league has switched to a new XFL-style kickoff format this year and the Broncos believe they will benefit from it. We’ll see if Marvin Mims can take advantage of more opportunities to return.

2. Season-opening roster construction: Denver can elevate two players from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week. It seems like a fairly safe guess that wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton will be the top candidates to be elevated in Week 1. That could lead to rookie Troy Franklin being a healthy scratch.

3. Luke Wattenberg at center: After losing Lloyd Cushenberry during free agency, the Broncos have replaced him in the starting lineup with Wattenberg. The four other starting linemen are all returning from 2023. Denver will hope Wattenberg is not a weak link as the only new starter.

4. It’s now or never for Greg Dulcich: He’s finally healthy, so can the tight end utilize his speed to make a big impact in Sean Payton’s offense?

5. A lighter Javonte Williams: The running back lost 11 pounds this offseason and Payton has said he looks like “a completely different player.” Sure, that could be coach speak, but Williams is now two years removed from his 2022 knee injury. Perhaps we’ll see a rejuvenated RB in 2024.

6. New-look defensive line: The Broncos signed Malcolm Roach during free agency, then they acquired John Franklin-Myers in a trade with the New York Jets. JFM and Roach joined a d-line rotation that already featured Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. Denver also has Eyioma Uwazurike returning from last year’s gambling suspension, and the team has been impressed with Jordan Jackson. The defensive line could be one of the Broncos’ big strengths in 2024.

7. Cody Barton replacing Josey Jewell: Denver lost Jewell in free agency and replaced him with Barton, who has started 24 games over the last two seasons. Will there be a noticeable difference at ILB?

8. Riley Moss at cornerback: Moss was never able to get going on defense as a rookie after undergoing core muscle surgery last summer. Now healthy entering Year 2, Moss is set to start across from Pat Surtain at cornerback. Let’s see what he can do.

9. Replacing Justin Simmons at safety: After moving on from both Simmons and Caden Sterns this offseason, the Broncos are poised to start free agent addition Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke at safety. There’s obviously going to be a drop-off going from one of the NFL’s best safeties to players with no career accolades, but can Jones and Locke hold their own?

10. Bo Nix makes his NFL debut: Nix is set to become the team’s 14th starting quarterback in the post-Peyton Manning era. Nix will also become Denver’s first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start in Week 1. No pressure, rookie.

After facing the Seahawks, the Broncos will return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. First things first, Seattle’s on deck.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

25 sleeper prospects to target in fantasy football

These 25 players are being undervalued in fantasy football this summer.

The 2024 NFL season begins tonight, as does the fantasy football season. For anyone with last-minute drafts, we’ve put together a list of 25 sleeper prospects to target this season.

Note that by “sleeper,” we mean a player we expect to outperform their average draft position in 2024. They’re not necessarily “unknown” players, but undervalued players going into the season.

Let’s get to it.

1. QB Jayden Daniels (ADP 102): Daniels (QB12) is not being drafted as a starter in 10-QB leagues, yet it’s extremely easy to imagine a top-10 (or better) finish for the rookie this season. After rushing for 2,019 yards and 21 touchdowns in two years at LSU, Daniels should continue making plays with his legs in the NFL.

2. QB Justin Herbert (ADP 123): Herbert’s stock tanked this summer following a foot injury, but he’s been practicing since mid-August. Herbert averaged 18.5 points per game last season, which ranked 11th among QBs. Yet he’s being drafted as QB17 this summer. Herbert’s injury might cause a slow early start, but getting him as QB17 should be a good value.

3. QB Kirk Cousins (ADP 135): Yes, he’s coming off an Achilles injury, but Cousins has never been much of a threat to run and he was cleared to play again in July. Cousins will be surrounded by talent in Atlanta and he should easily top his QB19 ADP. With a small sample size of eight games, Cousins ranked seventh among QBs with 19.3 PPG last fall. Before that, he ranked 13th in 2022 (18 PPG) and 12th in 2021 (19.2 PPG). Cousins seems unlikely to drop from QB13 to QB19 this season, but that’s where fantasy managers are drafting him.

4. QB Bo Nix (APD 186): Nix is a late-round flyer to serve as a QB2 in re-draft leagues and an intriguing dynasty option. Nix was tailor-made for Sean Payton’s offense and he rushed for 20 TDs in two seasons at Oregon. Denver ran read-option plays with Nix in preseason and while Payton obviously won’t want to run Nix into the ground, the QB’s speed will be utilized in 2024. He might not finish in the top 12 as a rookie, but it’s easy to imagine Nix finishing much higher than his QB23 ADP thanks to his rushing ability.

5. QB Justin Fields (ADP 194): Fields is an extremely deep sleeper because he won’t begin the year as Pittsburgh’s starter. Fields could get special packages early in the season near the goal line and if Russell Wilson struggles, it’s easy to imagine Fields eventually taking over as QB1. Fields is being drafted as QB27 so you obviously shouldn’t reach for him, but he could offer great value later in the year.

6. TE Dalton Schultz (ADP 125): Schultz finished as TE11 last season so his being drafted as TE13 isn’t a huge discrepancy, but he should prove to be a good value pick for fantasy managers who opt to wait to draft a TE.

7. TE T.J. Hockenson (ADP 126): Please understand that this is not a recommendation to overdraft Hockenson, who will miss at least the first four games of the season. Hockenson will eventually return from an ACL injury, though, and when he does, he could rank among the top fantasy TEs to close out the season. Drafting Hockenson late and stashing him on IR could pay dividends later in the year.

8. TE Pat Freiermuth (ADP 129): Freiermuth still hasn’t returned to the seven-touchdown production of his rookie season, and a five-game injury hurt his 2023 campaign. Now healthy again, he’ll look to outperform his TE15 ADP in 2024.

9. TE Taysom Hill (APD 151): Hill is a feast-or-famine fantasy prospect because a three-touchdown game could be followed up by a 12-yard game. Despite his up-and-down nature, Hill averaged 9.1 points per game last fall, which ranked ninth among TEs. He’s being drafted as TE21.

10. TE Greg Dulcich (ADP 239): It’s now or never for Denver’s former third-round pick. He missed seven games due to injuries as a rookie in 2022 and was unavailable for 15 games last fall. Now finally healthy, Dulcich will look to utilize his speed to make plays in Sean Payton’s offense that has been friendly to TEs in the past. Dulcich is being drafted as TE29 (undrafted in most leagues), so there’s no need to reach for him, but he could be an early-season waiver-wire target.

11. WR Cooper Kupp (ADP 34): It feels insane to list Kupp among “sleepers,” but he’s being drafted much later than his ceiling due to last season’s injuries. If he stays healthy — even with Puka Nacua added to the mix — Kupp should finish much higher than his WR17 ADP this season.

12. WR Malik Nabers (ADP 45): Marvin Harrison Jr.’s hype is through the roof, understandably so. But MHJR is being drafted as WR9 while Nabers is going off the board as WR24. MHJR should obviously be ranked higher than Nabers, but the sixth overall pick is also headed for a big year.

13. WR Rashee Rice (ADP 65): Eventually, Rice could face discipline from the NFL, but he’s set to play in the season opener and he’s a top receiver in KC’s high-flying offense. Landing him as WR30 could be a steal.

14. WR Xavier Worthy (ADP 82): Two Chiefs receivers make the list as Patrick Mahomes looks to have a bounce-back season. Worthy isn’t “the next Tyreek Hill,” but his speed could make him a great value as WR37 this fall.

15. Ladd McConkey (ADP 97): The Chargers lost Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, and Quentin Johnston has struggled to make an impact. That could leave McConkey as a PPR gem playing in the slot. He’s going off the board as WR42.

16. RB Alvin Kamara (ADP 46): He’s not the fantasy monster he once was, but Kamara could prove to be a big steal at RB17 after finishing as RB3 in PPR points per game (17.9) last year.

17. RB Javonte Williams (ADP 77): Getting a clear-cut starter at RB27 is a steal. Williams lost 11 pounds this offseason and coach Sean Payton has said he looks like “a completely different player.” Now another year removed from his 2022 knee injury, Williams is healthy and the clear RB1 in Denver.

18. RB Jonathon Brooks (APD 93): Understand that Brooks will miss at least the first four games of the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover from his ACL injury. He might not pay dividends until the second half of the season, but he would be the perfect use of an IR spot early in the season. Brooks is being drafted as RB34.

19. RB Jerome Ford (ADP 105): He will start at least the first four games of the season while Nick Chubb is on the PUP list. Chubb is recovering from a serious knee injury, but he’s being drafted as RB30 while Ford is going off the board as RB35. That should be flipped. Ford averaged 12.4 PPG last season, a serviceable number for RB3/flex, and depending on your roster, perhaps even an RB2. Getting him at RB35 should be a good value.

20. RB Chase Brown (ADP 104): Following the Joe Mixon departure, Brown might be the next man up in Cincinnati’s backfield. Zack Moss hurts his value, but a potential starter being drafted as RB37 is an intriguing option.

21. RB Trey Benson (ADP 113): If James Conner is ever sidelined, Benson will be the next man up. Conner has never played a full 16- or 17-game season and Arizona just used a third-round pick on Benson. He’s being drafted as RB39.

22. RB Blake Corum (ADP 111): Corum is arguably the most important sleeper and handcuff running back in fantasy football this year. He should have standalone value in L.A.’s offense and if Kyren Williams misses time like he did in each of his first two seasons, Corum’s stock will skyrocket. He’s currently being drafted as RB40.

23. RB J.K. Dobbins (ADP 120): Dobbins will likely be the lead running back for the Chargers this fall and if he stays healthy, Dobbins should easily finish higher than his RB41 ADP.

24. RB Tyler Allgeier (ADP 141): Similar to Corum, Allgeier already has standalone value, and if anything happens to Bijan Robinson, Allgeier’s stock will skyrocket. He’s a value at RB48 even as a rotational option.

25. RB Jaylen Wright (ADP 139): He’s currently behind De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert on the depth chart, but Wright’s speed should lead to him getting opportunities sooner than later. And once again, if there are injuries ahead of him, Wright’s stock will increase. He’s a flyer at RB48 with big upside.

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Fantasy Football: 5 sleeper tight ends for 2024 NFL season

Taysom Hill averaged 9.1 PPG last season (ninth among tight ends), but he’s being drafted as TE21 this summer.

The 2024 NFL season will kick off this week when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. The return of the NFL’s regular season also marks the return of fantasy football.

Ahead of Thursday’s opener, we’ve put together a quick list of sleeper tight ends for the 2024 season. Sleepers, for our purposes, are players we believe will finish higher than their average draft position (ADP) this fall. They’re not necessarily unknown players, but they are being undervalued by fantasy managers this offseason.

1. Dalton Schultz (ADP 125): Schultz finished as TE11 last season so his being drafted as TE13 isn’t a huge discrepancy, but he should prove to be a good value pick for fantasy managers who opt to wait to draft a TE.

2. T.J. Hockenson (ADP 126): Please understand that this is not a recommendation to overdraft Hockenson, who will miss at least the first four games of the season. Hockenson will eventually return from an ACL injury, though, and when he does, he could rank among the top fantasy TEs to close out the season. Drafting Hockenson late and stashing him on IR could pay dividends later in the year.

3. Pat Freiermuth (ADP 129): Freiermuth still hasn’t returned to the seven-touchdown production of his rookie season, and a five-game injury hurt his 2023 campaign. Now healthy again, he’ll look to outperform his TE15 ADP in 2024.

4. Taysom Hill (APD 151): Hill is a feast-or-famine fantasy prospect because a three-touchdown game could be followed up by a 12-yard game. Despite his up-and-down nature, Hill averaged 9.1 points per game last fall, which ranked ninth among TEs. He’s being drafted as TE21.

5. Greg Dulcich (ADP 239): It’s now or never for Denver’s former third-round pick. He missed seven games due to injuries as a rookie in 2022 and was unavailable for 15 games last fall. Now finally healthy, Dulcich will look to utilize his speed to make plays in Sean Payton’s offense that has been friendly to TEs in the past. Dulcich is being drafted as TE29 (undrafted in most leagues), so there’s no need to reach for him, but he could be an early-season waiver-wire target.

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]