In addition to the knee surgery KJ Hamler underwent after suffering a torn ACL in Week 3, the young Broncos wide receiver needed a hip operation.
Hamler suffered the hip injury on the same play he tore the ACL, and Mike Klis of 9News notes the Broncos initially feared the former second-round pick suffered a Bo Jackson-type injury. It turned out not to be in that ballpark, one that saw Jackson’s football career end and eventual hip-replacement surgery become necessary.
The Broncos’ No. 4 wideout has long been reported ahead of schedule in his rehab. News of this hip procedure adds to the remarkability of the Penn State product being in position to catch passes from Russell Wilson shortly after the quarterback’s arrival. Hamler is not yet a full participant in Broncos offseason workouts, but Klis notes he is running and cutting at full speed and expects to be ready for full work in training camp. This was Hamler’s second ACL tear; he suffered the first during his senior year of high school.
Denver included Noah Fant in the Wilson trade but kept its top four wide receivers. With Jerry Jeudy a former top-15 pick and Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick now attached to eight-figure per-year deals, Hamler is positioned to be an off-the-bench contributor. Jeudy and Sutton’s injury trouble in recent years, and the Broncos’ interest in seeing what they have in Hamler, should lead to the speed merchant receiving extensive work in his third season. The 5-foot-9 wideout caught 30 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2020.
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