With the realization of playing perhaps the entire season without Von Miller no doubt still settling in, the Denver Broncos likely sighed a bit of collective relief as it relates to one of their top offensive players.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was evaluated for a shoulder injury, NFL Network's James Palmer reported Thursday, and it revealed he suffered an AC joint sprain, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. 9News' Mike Klis first reported the sprain.
Sutton went for a ball and sustained the injury during practice, which forced him to leave. Sutton never returned to practice and was officially listed as limited in the team's daily injury report.
The Broncos' No. 1 receiver and the favorite target of second-year quarterback Drew Lock, Sutton had a breakout 2019 season with 72 receptions for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns in his second pro campaign. Set to start opposite rookie first-rounder Jerry Jeudy, Sutton is the centerpiece of the Broncos passing game. With rookie K.J. Hamler already dealing with a hamstring injury, losing Sutton would be a blow to the Broncos' depth, but more so a huge loss overall to a burgeoning offense looking to find its game and hopeful of a promising season.
For now, the Broncos are playing the waiting game to see if Sutton can play in the opener, but are no doubt happy at the initial diagnosis, provided it could have been much worse.
