Before the Denver Broncos' 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the last time tight end Albert Okwuegbunam had played any meaningful snaps on offense was Week 5. Although Okwuegbunam started off the season as the Broncos' starting tight end, his snap count began to diminish each game.
By Week 6, former head coach Nathaniel Hackett had relegated Okwuegbunam to the ranks of the healthy scratches as rookie Greg Dulcich stepped in as the team's top tight end. Hackett was a big proponent of the Dulcich pick in Round 3 last spring, but nobody saw 'Albert O' ending up in the doghouse to the extent that he was.
With Hackett dismissed a week ago, interim head coach Jerry Rosburg dusted Okwuegbunam off and let him know he'd have a big role in the Broncos' Week 17 game-plan. Then at week's end, Dulcich landed on injured reserve.
Okwuegbunam had himself a day at Arrowhead Stadium, finishing with three receptions (on a team-high six targets) for 45 yards and a touchdown. The third-year tight end had to feel some level of vindication post-game.
"I knew I was going to get some opportunities," Okwuegbunam said afterward. "Thankfully, I was able to capitalize on some. It could have been better, for sure, but overall, I am proud of our guys and how we fought today.”
The Broncos ultimately lost their 15th straight to the Chiefs, but Okwuegbunam's production revealed how Hackett had squandered such playmaking potential. Dulcich is a fine young player with enormous upside, but so is Okwuegbunam. Imagine them being utilized in tandem, together, against opposing defenses.
That's a vision that the next head coach will have to realize. With one game left to go, Okwuegbunam is just grateful that he was tapped to play.
“I’m grateful that I got some opportunities even though it’s toward the end of the season," Okwuegbunam said. "There are a lot of things that happened this season that are out of my control, but I am glad to come out here and contribute today.”
A 2020 fourth-round pick out of Missouri, Okwuegbunam has the chance to punctuate a frustrating season with an exclamation point. With offensive coordinator Justin Outten now calling the plays (Week 17 was the first game he did so), Broncos fans can expect 'Albert O' to be heavily featured in the game-plan.
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