WR Courtland Sutton pulls off stunning catch vs. Falcons

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Broncos' Courtland Sutton pulls off stunning catch vs. Falcons

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Aug 14, 2026 8:04 PM ET

Even without starting quarterback Bo Nix playing, the Denver Broncos were hoping to get off to a fast start on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

Courtland Sutton helped the Broncos accomplish that goal in his short amount of time on the field.

Sutton, expected to once again be one of Denver's biggest passing game threats this season, grabbed three passes for 60 yards on the first two Broncos drives against Atlanta. Targeted early and often by Denver backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham (who is locked in a battle for the backup quarterback role with Sam Ehlinger), Sutton stood out and made Stidham's choices pay off.

Courtland Sutton's highlight-reel catch was a key early moment for Denver Broncos

What isn't shown in the box score is the athletic ability that Sutton displayed in one of his catches, going up and bringing down a Stidham pass with one hand.

COURTLAND SUTTON WITH A ONE-HANDED SNAG

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— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2026

Perhaps even more impressive is that Sutton made the catch against Atlanta cornerback C.J. Henderson, who was selected ninth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft.

That catch came after Sutton had hauled in a 40-yard pass from Stidham that brought the Broncos to the Falcons' 1-yard line. He narrowly missed a touchdown on the play, giving the Broncos a quick 7-0 lead after their opening possession.

Courtland Sutton will be important for Broncos in 2026

Sutton's numbers will certainly whet expectations for what could be this season in the Mile High City. Last year, Sutton paced the Broncos with 1,017 receiving yards, logging back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Sutton's success again this season would be big for a Broncos team that brought in receiver Jaylen Waddle in the offseason to give quarterback Bo Nix another target.

While it may be easy to shrug off any preseason statistics, a strong start from Sutton and the Broncos on Friday night is a good sign for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations after losing in the AFC Championship Game last season.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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