Turns out there’s a silver lining to Javon Walker’s knee problems. Walker’s prolonged absence has hastened the arrival of Brandon Marshall into the ranks of stardom.
With Walker out of the lineup, Marshall didn’t have any choice. If the Broncos were going to move the ball through the air, he had to step up. Period.
And he has.
With Walker gone — not to mention Rod Smith, the franchise leader in every receiving statistic — Marshall has become Jay Cutler’s go-to guy. And to think, he was a draft-day afterthought.
If they held the 2006 NFL draft again today, Marshall would be a No. 1 pick, not a fourth-rounder. He’s on pace for almost 90 catches and well over 900 yards.
Now for the good news: He may be teamed with Walker sooner rather than later. If those two ever get on the same field, the Broncos would have one of the most dangerous receiving tandems in the league.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
