Emmanuel Sanders return is a Godsend for Broncos
By Kareem Gantt
After rupturing his Achilles tendon eight months ago, Emmanuel Sanders looks to be back in top form, and this is great news for Joe Flacco and Broncos.
Ask any player in any sport and they’ll tell you its tough to come back in top form from an Achilles tendon tear. Emmanuel Sanders seems like he has beaten the odds, and this is great news for Joe Flacco and the Denver Broncos.
When Sanders ruptured his Achillies eight months ago, the Broncos playoff hopes exploded along with it. Some doubted that Sanders would regain the explosiveness that made him one of the most feared deep threats in the NFL. In the Broncos third game of the preseason, Sanders made a return, and he immediately showed no ill-effects of the Achilles tear.
On the first offensive play, Flacco threw a 45-yard bomb to Sanders, who made a spectacular catch that had Broncos fans sparkling with hope. Though the catch was wiped out by a penalty, it didn’t dampen the mood for the Broncos nor their fans. Their star wide receiver seems to be back in top form.
That catch was a great sign for Flacco, who now has a receiver who can pose problems for secondaries downfield. For Sanders, having Flacco throwing him the ball is a Godsend. There is no secret that Denver’s quarterback situation has been an ugly sight over the past few seasons, and Sanders stats cratered along with the quarterback position, going from 79 catches and 1,032 yards in 2016 to 71 catches for just 868 yards last season before his Achillies betrayed him.
Now with a quarterback in Flacco who loves to throw the deep ball, Sanders should be all smiles for the 2019 season, and could very well regain his status as one of the NFL’s most-feared deep threats.