The reality of ’ departure hit the Broncos’ receivers early Wednesday when they saw the empty locker room stall that belonged to him as they walked to their morning meeting.
Thomas, the longest-tenured Broncos player, was traded to the on Tuesday, leaving a void on several levels — teammate, mentor, friend.
“Itap been a rough 48 hours for me,” wide receiver said after practice. “Itap hard to see him go. It was tough to (come) to work this morning and tough even to go out to practice. But at the same time, I have a job to do.”
Sanders, now the leader of the Broncos’ young receiver group, hit the right notes.
Will the Broncos miss Thomas? Absolutely.
Must they move on quickly to try and save their season Sunday against Thomas’ Texans? Yes.
“I was definitely sad to see him go but we all have a job to do and if we don’t do it, people (will) lose their jobs,” said rookie , the biggest beneficiary of Thomas’ departure.
Said receiver : “Super excited to get a chance to get some more playing time and get a chance to make more plays. I’m happy, but I’m definitely not happy D.T. is gone.”
The receiver depth chart is now Sanders, Sutton and Patrick. (MCL sprain) will take the No. 3 spot once he returns after the bye.
Coach Vance Joseph addressed the trade in a Wednesday morning team meeting. His message?
“This wasn’t a white flag, itap a green flag,” Joseph said. “We’re going forward. This is going to make us better now and in the future. We’re full speed ahead for Sunday.”
Meanwhile, down in Houston, Thomas was assigned No. 87 and will debut Sunday against the Broncos.
“It was strange to get traded first off and then come here and get ready to play in the Mile High City you’ve been playing in the last eight-and-a-half, nine years is very strange,” Thomas said. “I think itap a great opportunity for me. I think change is going to be good here.”
Thomas said the emotions will be “tough” Sunday, “but thatap ball and I have to deal with it.”
It is now the task of the Broncos’ defense to deal with Thomas in a game. Cornerback Chris Harris said he will have the advantage if he faces Thomas “because I’m that good.”
The Broncos will need Sanders to continue to be as good (on pace for 100 catches and 1,320 yards) and also see increased production from Sutton (17 catches, 324 yards, three touchdowns) and Patrick (3/56/1).
Sutton was drafted in the second round with an eye toward replacing Thomas in 2019. The transition arrived a half-season early.
“Being put into the position that I’m in, I have to make sure I’m performing every day in practice, film-wise, and then of course every time we have a game,” Sutton said. “I have to make sure I go out and perform to the level I’m supposed to perform.”
Sutton has been strictly a downfield option for the Broncos this season, but it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator deploys him on short-to-intermediate routes.
“He’s a second-round pick that probably should have been a first-round pick,” Joseph said. “I think Courtland can be special. Now he has to go prove it along with DaeSean and along with Tim Patrick. Itap a young (receiver) room, but itap talented.”
Thomas may be gone but will not be forgotten by his young teammates.
“D.T.’s my guy,” Hamilton said. “When I got here as a rookie, D.T. was one of those guys that I really found a close connection to, somebody I could talk to, somebody I could hit up at any time. I’ll still lean on him for mentorship.”
Said quarterback : “He’s going to be one of those guys I’m going to tell my kids and hopefully my grandkids that I got to play with. Special, special player (and) special person.”
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