Determined to be the type of receiver who can put a team on his shoulders and carry it to victory, Broncos rookie Jerry Jeudy burst out with a career day Sunday against the Falcons.
But in not accomplishing the second part of that onus, the frustrated wideout left Atlanta with a bitter taste in his mouth following the 34-27 defeat.
“If we don’t finish with a dub, it doesn’t mean nothing,” Jeudy said. “I’m tired of losing. I want to do everything I can to make the team better and us better as a whole. Going out there in practice (every day), that’s what I remind myself of.”
Jeudy recorded his first career 100-yard game in the loss, setting career highs with seven receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. He and quarterback Drew Lock also left some catches on the table, as Jeudy was targeted 14 times. The No. 15 overall pick this year has now caught less than half the passes thrown his way (49.2%).
But according to coach Vic Fangio, Jeudy’s uptick in concentration during practice the past couple of weeks is what’s propelling his growth on game day.
In last week’s comeback win over the Chargers, Jeudy was a spark, posting four receptions for 73 yards. That performance, and the one Sunday, were more on brand for a wideout who embraced the role of game-changer at Alabama — where the Crimson Tide lost four games in his three seasons — and is now expected to fulfill that role in the NFL.
“He’s made really good strides here the last couple weeks, and the last two or three games,” Fangio said. “I really like the way Jerry’s been playing and I like where he’s headed. He’s been practicing better and it translates to the game… His arrow’s definitely up, and he’s what we thought we got when we drafted him.”
Lock agreed, noting Jeudy’s “hitting his stride and he’s asserting himself in that wide receiver room and in the NFL.”
“(Opponents) are going to take a second look at him (when game-planning),” Lock said. “Jerry’s getting physical and he knows his job extremely well right now. And he’s played really hard. That’s one thing you’ll see when you watch his film. If he does make a mistake, it’s never not at 100 miles per hour or at 100 percent. I’m proud of him.”
Jeudy’s rapid assimilation in the NFL, and his increasing production, have seemed to rub off on fellow wideouts KJ Hamler and Tim Patrick as Jeudy’s demanding more of the defense’s attention. The rookie Hamler had six catches for 75 yards Sunday and also had a 15-yard rush on an end-around. Meanwhile, Patrick had four for 29 with a touchdown, his third of the season, as the third-year pro continues to help Denver fill the void caused by the season-ending injury to Courtland Sutton.
Jeudy’s second touchdown of the season came largely due to his crafty route running. With the Denver offense desperate for some life early in the fourth quarter, Jeudy sprinted down the right sideline in one-on-one coverage with Atlanta rookie cornerback A.J. Terrell, then stopped on a dime to get wide open.
“I just threw my hand up to make the DB feel like I was running the go-route,” Jeudy said. “That’s something creative I’ve been thinking about with my route running.”
But Jeudy would like to have at least one play back Sunday — a drop on the Broncos’ final drive as Denver had 44 seconds to try to march the length of the field and tie the game. Jeudy has five drops on the season, including a couple game-changing ones in the Week 1 loss to Tennessee.
“I’ve got to have stronger hands (on that play),” Jeudy said. “That’s it. That’s a good football play (by the defender). A good throw by Drew and good play by the DB, but I’ve just got to finish the play and keep it in my hands.”
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Jerry Jeudy posts first 100-yard receiving game, but Broncos rookie wideout leaves Atlanta with bitter taste in his mouth - The Denver Post
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