Tag: Greg Dulcich

Broncos roster series: No. 80, TE Greg Dulcich

After two injury-plagued seasons, Broncos TE Greg Dulcich is now healthy and aiming to make some noise in 2024.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year tight end, Greg Dulcich, No. 80. 

Before the Broncos: Dulcich (6-4, 245 pounds) was a big-bodied target at UCLA from 2018-21. In his four-yearc college career, Dulcich caught 77 passes for 1,353 yards and 11 touchdowns as a Bruin.

Broncos tenure: Dulcich was selected by the Broncos on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft, in the third round (80th overall). In 2022, Dulcich began the season on the bench with an injury, but came out swinging in the last 10 games of the season, catching 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns. Last year, Dulcich was healthy for just two games (starting one), catching only three passes for 25 yards.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: On the bubble. Dulcich has not been healthy for most of his career in Denver. He has problems as a run-blocker and only has seven starts in his young career. If Dulcich doesn’t show the potential that Broncos coaches saw in him as a third-round pick, he could be cut in favor of fellow tight end Lucas Krull this summer. Dulcich is currently healthy, though, so a good summer could land him a spot on the 53.

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Broncos TE Greg Dulcich ‘close’ to returning to action

“He’s close … We’re encouraged. I think you’ll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart,” Sean Payton said of Greg Dulcich.

Story update: Greg Dulcich had foot surgery this offseason and its his foot — hit his hamstring — that has kept him sidelined this offseason, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. See our original post below. 

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich missed seven games as a rookie in 2022 and 15 games last fall due to various injuries.

In May, Broncos coach Sean Payton said Dulcich “feels that urgency” to put his injury woes behind him. One month later, the injury bug still lingers as Dulcich was working on the side at practice on Thursday.

Payton does not seem to be concerned. He indicated that Dulcich is close to returning to the field and the team is merely being cautious.

“He’s close,” Payton said. “He’s had all the work done. We’re encouraged. I think you’ll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart.”

Payton hinted that Dulcich will be back on the field in time for mandatory minicamp in June.

“His rehab has gone well,” Payton said. “It’s not going to be we don’t see him until training camp.”

The Broncos are expected to begin training camp in late July. Entering his third season, Dulcich will need to stay healthy this summer if he wants to turn his career around this fall.

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Broncos TE Greg Dulcich hopes to put injuries behind him in 2024

“The plan’s just going to be trying to get healthy and then just stay healthy and make sure I put this stuff behind me,” Greg Dulcich said.

After missing seven games due to injury as a rookie in 2022, Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich missed all but two games in 2023 due to hamstring and foot injuries.

Now going into his third season, Dulcich is hoping to leave those injury woes behind him in 2024.

“The plan’s just going to be trying to get healthy and then just stay healthy and make sure I put this stuff behind me,” Dulcich said on Jan. 8, via Mike Klis of 9News.

After he recovered from a hamstring injury in 2023, Dulcich immediately injured his foot in practice. The tight end said he has “bony feet” and his cleat irritated his foot in a “really kinda freaky way,” which led to significant swelling. The Broncos then shut him down for the season.

It was a frustrating scenario for both Dulcich and the team because he had worked hard to recover from the lengthy hamstring injury.

“There’s a lot of factors, I think, that kinda could go into it, and that’s why we were trying to think of all the things and leave no stone unturned,” Dulcich said of his reoccurring hamstring injuries. “That was kind of the plan with, like, losing some weight — I mean, it worked, because my hamstring feels great, it was just [the foot].”

Dulcich has been healthy for 12 games over the last two seasons. He totaled 36 receptions for 436 yards and two touchdowns in those contests.

Now going into his third offseason, Dulcich’s hamstrings are healthy and his foot does not seem to be a long-term injury. The 23-year-old tight end will aim for the first healthy season of his career in 2024.

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Broncos will get a close look at every TE at the Senior Bowl

Broncos quality control coaches Logan Kilgore (National) and Zack Grossi (American) will coach tight ends at the Senior Bowl next week.

If the Denver Broncos plan to target tight ends in the 2024 NFL draft, they should be well-briefed on the TEs who participated in the Senior Bowl.

Sean Payton will have a member of his staff coaching tight ends for each team at the college all-star game in Mobile, Alabama next week. Broncos quality control coach Logan Kilgore will coach TEs for the National team and fellow QC coach Zack Grossi will coach the American team TEs.

The list of TEs set to participate in this year’s Senior Bowl includes PSU’s Theo Johnson, Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford, Michigan’s AJ Barner, Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott, FSU’s Jaheim Bell, Arizona’s Tanner McLachlan and TCU’s Jared Wiley.

Denver tight end Greg Dulcich is coming off another disappointing season in which he missed 15 games due to injury. Adam Trautman, who served as the team’s No. 1 TE in 2024, is scheduled to become a free agent in March.

The Broncos currently own six picks for April’s draft. Senior Bowl participants will begin practicing next week ahead of the all-star game set to be played on Saturday, Feb. 3.

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Broncos injuries: Greg Dulcich won’t return for final game of 2023 season

The Broncos did not activate TE Greg Dulcich before Wednesday’s deadline, which means his season is over. He played in two games in 2023.

Another lost season for Greg Dulcich will conclude this weekend.

The second-year tight end was not activated from injured reserve before Wednesday’s deadline, which means he will remain on IR to close out the 2023 season.

Dulcich, currently sidelined by hamstring and foot injuries, initially went on injured reserve with a hamstring injury after Week 1. He returned four weeks later, only to immediately re-injure his hamstring. Dulcich returned to IR ahead of Week 7 and he’ll remain there through Week 18.

Dulcich has missed 22 games due to injury through his first two seasons in the NFL. Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked Monday what the tight end can do this offseason to get his career back on track.

“It’s something that our medical people and everyone involved are working hard on,” Payton said. “Getting to that proper weight, strength and all the things that allow him to stay healthy.

“He’s a tremendous worker, so he’s going to do whatever it takes. We’ll just have to wait, but we kind of go from there.”

Denver’s complete Wednesday injury report can be seen below (DNP = did not participate).

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
TE Chris Manhertz (illness) DNP
OT Mike McGlinchey (ribs) DNP
RB Samaje Perine (rest) DNP
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) DNP
OLB Baron Browning (concussion) Limited
ILB Josey Jewell (back) Limited
WR Marvin Mims (hamstring) Limited
WR Courtland Sutton (concussion) Limited
OT Alex Palczewski (knee) Full

The Broncos will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Broncos inactives: 7 players won’t suit up vs. Patriots

Broncos inactives vs. Patriots tonight: Ben DiNucci, Nik Bonitto, JL Skinner, Nate Adkins, Thomas Incoom, Alex Forsyth and Elijah Garcia.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for a Christmas Eve showdown with the New England Patriots in Week 16.

Broncos quarterback Ben DiNucci, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (knee), safety JL Skinner, tight end/fullback Nate Adkins, outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, center Alex Forsyth and defensive lineman Elijah Garcia won’t suit up today.

Those seven inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Patriots on Sunday night.

Elsewhere on the roster front, Denver elevated DiNucci and outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. The Broncos did not activate safety Kareem Jackson to the 53-man roster following his return from a four-game suspension.

Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on NFL Network. Kickoff for the Denver-New England showdown is set for 6:15 p.m. MT. Football fans can stream the Broncos-Patriots game on fuboTV (try it free).

See photos of each of the team’s inactive players below.

Broncos made several roster moves this week

The Broncos elevated QB Ben DiNucci and OLB Ronnie Perkins to the game-day roster for Week 16. Denver did not activate DB Kareem Jackson.

The Denver Broncos made several roster moves this week ahead of their Christmas Eve showdown with the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The moves started on Tuesday when the Broncos signed defensive back Keidron Smith to the practice squad. To make room for Smith, Denver waived safety Dallin Leavitt from the practice squad.

Later in the week, the Broncos elevated quarterback Ben DiNucci and outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. Denver did not activate safety Kareem Jackson to the 53-man roster following his return from a four-game suspension.

The Broncos have a roster exemption for Jackson that expires on Monday. Once the exemption expires, Denver will need to either make a roster move to make room for Jackson, or release Jackson.

In addition to not activating Jackson, the Broncos also did not activate tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) from injured reserve. Dulcich was ruled out on Friday and will now miss another game.

Broncos injury report: Nik Bonitto ruled out for Patriots game

The Broncos have ruled out OLB Nik Bonitto (knee) and TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

The Denver Broncos have ruled out pass rusher Nik Bonitto (knee) and tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve.

With Bonitto sidelined, Drew Sanders and Thomas Incoom will likely serve as the team’s rotational pass rushers behind starters Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper in Week 16.

Meanwhile, Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz and Lucas Krull will be the team’s tight end options against the Patriots.

The team’s final injury report can be seen below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
OLB Nik Bonitto (knee) DNP DNP DNP Out
TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) DNP DNP DNP Out
RB Samaje Perine (rest) DNP Full Full
OLB Jonathon Cooper (ankle) Limited Full Full
OT Alex Palczewski (knee) Limited Full Full Out
DL Mike Purcell (rest) Not listed DNP Full
TE Chris Manhertz (rest) Not listed DNP Full

Playing at home, the Broncos are considered six-point favorites against the Patriots this week.

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Broncos injuries: Nik Bonitto still sidelined

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto (knee) and TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) were held out of Thursday’s practice.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (knee) missed practice again Thursday after previously sitting out Wednesday’s session. His chances of suiting up against the New England Patriots on Sunday seem slim.

Meanwhile, Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) also remains sidelined. Denver coach Sean Payton said earlier this week that he expects Dulcich to play again this season, but the tight end does not appear to be trending toward playing in Week 16.

The team’s complete Thursday injury report can be seen below (DNP = did not participate).

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
OLB Nik Bonitto (knee) DNP DNP
TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring/foot) DNP DNP
RB Samaje Perine (rest) DNP Full
OLB Jonathon Cooper (ankle) Limited Full
OT Alex Palczewski (knee) Limited Full
DL Mike Purcell (rest) Not listed DNP
TE Chris Manhertz (rest) Not listed DNP

The Broncos will practice again on Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for a Christmas Eve showdown against the Patriots.

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Sean Payton expects TE Greg Dulcich to play again this season

“I expect him to play at some point in these final three weeks,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of TE Greg Dulcich.

The Denver Broncos activated tight end Greg Dulcich’s 21-day window to return from injured reserve last week after he recovered from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old tight end then suffered a foot injury at practice and the team ruled him out for last week’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked earlier this week if Dulcich’s injury setback means he won’t be able to return to the field this season.

“No, no, it didn’t,” Payton said during his Monday conference call with reporters. “In fairness to the question — I usually don’t like talking about injuries, but I just want to make sure [you know] — this was unrelated to his hamstring. He just had some swelling and soreness in his foot. We took him off weight-bearing for a day or two.

“I’m anxious to see how he does this week. I expect him to play at some point in these final three weeks, but I don’t want you to think it was something that was going to preclude him from doing that. We’ll see where he’s at this week.”

Denver is set to return to practice later today and Dulcich’s status will be worth monitoring. The Broncos have until Jan. 3 to activate him to the 53-man roster. If the tight end is not activated before that deadline, Dulcich will be ruled out for the year, including the team’s regular-season finale and any potential playoff games.

The clock is ticking. Dulcich returning to practice Wednesday would be a good sign for his chances of playing again this season.

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