November 28th 2024.
Last week, the Browns found themselves relying on Jerry Jeudy during their game against the Steelers. And boy, did he deliver! The fifth-year wide receiver showed off his skills in the second half, racking up an impressive 46 receiving yards out of his total 85. Thanks to his contributions, Cleveland was able to pull off an exciting upset win in the midst of some snowy conditions. According to quarterback Jameis Winston, it was "true football weather" - the kind that really puts players' abilities to the test.
Ever since Winston took over as the Browns' starting quarterback, we've seen Jeudy's performance on the rise. In fact, he's managed to collect 24 catches for 379 yards and even scored a touchdown since Week 8. Now, he's heading back to Denver, where he first started his career with high expectations that unfortunately never quite panned out. But after being traded to Cleveland last spring, Jeudy has found a new home and is determined to make his mark.
Even though his time in Denver was marked by inconsistency, the Broncos are well aware of the challenge that Jeudy presents. As safety P.J. Locke, who played four seasons with the Broncos, puts it, "He's different." Unlike many other receivers who pace themselves, Jeudy goes full speed and is a force to be reckoned with on the field. With his impressive skills and toughness, he's a tough one to guard against.
During the 2022 season, Jeudy had a career-best performance, racking up an impressive 972 yards and six touchdowns. There was even talk that he would emerge as a true No.1 receiver. Unfortunately, things didn't quite turn out that way and he took a step back during the 2023 season, with 54 catches for 758 yards and two touchdowns. In six games, he was held to less than 50 receiving yards.
But both sides got a fresh start when Denver traded Jeudy to Cleveland last March for fifth- and sixth-round picks in the 2024 draft. The Broncos used the fifth-round pick to make a deal with Seattle and move up in the fourth round to take wide receiver Troy Franklin. As for the sixth-round pick, it was sent to the Jets in exchange for quarterback Zach Wilson.
Even though the Broncos and Jeudy went their separate ways, head coach Sean Payton still admires the wide receiver's explosiveness and ability to create separation. "From a talent standpoint, he's got great hips, great transition, and great football IQ," Payton remarked. Locke adds, "I don't know if you've ever seen a video of a gazelle changing direction quickly...That's my image of him."
Through 11 games, Jeudy is on track to set new personal records, with 45 catches for 645 yards and two touchdowns. He's averaging an impressive 14.3 yards per catch and has had at least 70 yards in six games. Since Winston took over as quarterback after Deshaun Watson's season-ending injury, Jeudy has become his top target and has averaged 94.8 yards in the last four games. In their recent game against the Saints, Jeudy had six catches for 142 yards - his most since a 152-yard performance in the 2022 season finale against the Chargers.
But as we look ahead to the next game, let's not forget the clutch 15-yard catch that Jeudy made to set up running back Nick Chubb's go-ahead rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. As Payton puts it, "When you tell somebody, 'Hey, go get open and I'm going to find you,' that's what a receiver wants." Clearly, Payton and Jeudy have a good connection, which we've seen in the limited games that Winston has played.
Locke recalls the challenge of facing Jeudy during practices in Denver and is looking forward to competing against him in a real game on Monday. "It's gonna be fun," Locke says, adding that he knows Jeudy will be hyped to come back to Denver. And if you're hungry for more Broncos news, make sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all the latest updates and NFL analysis.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
