Broncos WR KJ Hamler blames himself for Jerry Jeudy's ankle injury

Denver Broncos wide receiver KJ Hamler is blaming himself for Jerry Jeudy's ankle injury. 

Jeudy suffered the injury in the third quarter of the team's season-opening loss to the New York Giants. It came five plays after Hamler dropped what would have been a 50-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater. 

"It's messed up that Jerry has to go through this right now, and at the time, I was I kind of putting his injury on me," Hamler said, according to Kyle Newman of the Denver Post. "Because if I would've caught that touchdown, that probably would've never happened."

Jeudy could be sidelined for six weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. However, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio wouldn't put a timeline on the 22-year-old's recovery process.  

Jeudy finished Week 1 as Denver's leading receiver, catching six passes for 72 yards. 

The Alabama product's absence throws Tim Patrick into a starting role alongside Courtland Sutton. Hamler should also see a significant increase in snaps, though he's behind Patrick and Sutton on the depth chart. 

Hamler is in his second season with the Broncos after being selected 46th overall in the 2020 draft. Last season, he had 30 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. 

Patrick, meanwhile, is in his fourth season in Denver. He had the best year of his career in 2020, catching 51 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. 

Sutton is also in his fourth year with the Broncos. He appeared in just one game last season before tearing his ACL. The 25-year-old's best season came in 2019 when he had 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns. 

The Broncos are slated to face the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend in Week 2.