ALBERT OKWUEGBUNAM JR. NEWS

Shows promise in 2020 Okwuegbunam (knee) caught 11 of 15 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown during the 2020 season. 

Impact Okwuegbunam quickly renewed his chemistry with former Mizzou teammate Drew Lock. The rookie was targeted six times in his debut in Week 5 against New England and then caught all seven of his targets against Kansas City in Week 7. He nabbed an acrobatic, game-turning touchdown in the comeback win over the Chargers before tearing his ACL in Week 9 at Atlanta. Okwuegbunam is an enticing weapon with true 4.5 speed at 260 pounds. With a full offseason ahead of him, he could be a tantalizing TE2 to pair with Noah Fant depending on what the Broncos do with veteran Nick Vannett in the offseason.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Raiders, Broncos jockeying for draft position, not playoffs

The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos head into the final weekend of the season jockeying for draft position instead of the playoffs

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Undergoes successful surgery Okwuegbunam underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL on Tuesday, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Impact The rookie tight end will now shift his focus toward rehabbing for the 2021 season. It's unclear whether he'll be ready in time for Week 1 after picking up the injury Nov. 8. The fourth-round pick showed promise before sustaining the brutal injury, receiving heavy targets from college teammate Drew Lock and finishing with an 11-121-1 line on 15 targets over four games. Okwuegbunam will reside on IR for the remainder of the season.

DECEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Broncos rookie receivers a bright spot in difficult season

The Broncos' first two draft picks are providing a glimpse of a bright future in another difficult season

NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lock misses practice, Rypien might get second career start

Coach Vic Fangio says Drew Lock has made progress this week as he deals with bruised ribs

NOVEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MU players in the pros Linebacker Terez Hall joined Albert Okwuegbunam, Jordan Elliot and Yasir Durant as former Missouri football players to make their NFL debuts...

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Lock laments loss of tight end as Broncos search for answers

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is lamenting the loss of rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to a season-ending torn knee ligament

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Officially shifts to IR The Broncos placed Okwuegbunam (knee) on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Impact Okwuegbunam showed flashes of his potential in his rookie season, as Drew Lock targeted him in the red zone four times over four games, and the tight end finished with 11 receptions for 121 yards and a score in that stretch. The Missouri product suffered an ACL injury Week 9 and will be shut down for the season, and he could make a full recovery for the 2021 campaign. Moving forward, Noah Fant (ankle) will continue to operate as the No. 1 tight end while Nick Vannett collects some of the reps left behind by Okwuegbunam.

NOVEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

What Albert Okwuegbunam showed before joining Broncos' lengthy injury list The receiver showed a lot of promise before an unfortunate injury last week.

NOVEMBER 10, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Slow-starting Denver Broncos aim to quit playing catch-up

The Denver Broncos have to figure out a way to start faster if they're going to have a chance to making a second-half push to the playoffs

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Broncos rookie tight end Okwuegbunam out with torn ACL Rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is out for the year after tearing his right ACL in the Denver Broncos’ loss at Atlanta on Sunday.

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Broncos rookie tight end Okwuegbunam out with torn ACL

The Denver Broncos tight end group took another hit Monday with when tests showed rookie Albert Okwuegbunam sustained a torn ACL in his right knee at Atlanta on Sunday

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Broncos Get Terrible Injury News on Rookie Albert Okwuegbunam The Denver Broncos' 2020 injuries woes just continue to pile up. The latest loss is rookie tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who was just report...

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM

Suffers torn ACL Okwuegbunam (knee) sustained a torn right ACL during Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Falcons, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Impact Okwuegbunam was forced out Sunday after making his first catch of the day in the third quarter, and it's now been revealed that he sustained a season-ending injury on the play. Not only is the timing brutal for the rookie fourth-round pick, who had been building momentum on offense and establishing a connection with Drew Lock in the red zone, but as Klis notes it represents further attrition for the Broncos, an organization with 13 players already on IR. Okwuegbunam's rookie campaign comes to an end with 11 catches on 15 targets, which he converted into 121 yards and one score in four contests.

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

QBs Stafford, Allen, several TEs injured on rough NFL Sunday

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford left for good in the fourth quarter Sunday against Minnesota to undergo concussion protocol after being struck in the head during a sack, a misha...

NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ryan throws 3 TDs as Falcons stop comeback, beat Broncos

Matt Ryan took advantage of Denver’s thin secondary to throw three touchdown passes and the Atlanta Falcons turned back Denver’s bid for a second consecutive comeback to beat the B...

NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Exits with knee injury Okwuegbunam was forced out of Sunday's game against the Falcons with a knee injury, Patrick Smyth of the Broncos' official site reports.

Impact Okwuegbunam caught his first pass of the game with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter, but he went down in clear pain and immediately left for the locker room. Noah Fant already injured his ankle earlier this game but was able to return, so Fant and Nick Vannett will handle the reps at tight end if Okwuegbunam doesn't return.

NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

The Latest: Home teams now 65-65-1 in this pandemic season

Seven road teams have prevailed in the NFL's Week 9

NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lock fires back at dance critic, will keep busting moves

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock threw shade back at Colin Cowherd on Thursday when he suggested Cowherd's criticism of his dance moves probably stem from the Fox Sports Radio...

NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Broncos' Lock, Falcons' Ryan try to continue season revivals

Drew Lock and Matt Ryan are trying to lead season revivals for the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, respectively

NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Albert Okwuegbunam proving to be a steal for the Broncos Albert Okwuegbunam is already proving to be a steal for the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos made what seemed like a "luxury" pick in the...

NOVEMBER 4, 2020 • PREDOMINANTLYORANGE.COM

Column: Broncos, Saints both defend teammate, unlike Cowboys

Both the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints came to the defense of a teammate Sunday, a week after the Dallas Cowboys' lack of reaction to a dirty hit on their quarterback drew...

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Broncos coach says he never considered benching Drew Lock

Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio says he never considered benching Drew Lock when the second-year quarterback's season-long struggles continued Sunday with an awful start against th...

NOVEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scores first career touchdown Okwuegbunam caught his only target for a nine-yard touchdown during Sunday's 31-30 win over the Chargers.

Impact Okwuegbunam brought the Broncos to within a score early in the fourth quarter, skying for the touchdown in the back of the end zone and getting his rear in bounds for his first career score. It was arguably just his second most important play of the game. Okwuegbunam drew a critical pass-interference penalty in the back of the end zone during the closing seconds that set up the winning play. Okwuegbunam has chemistry with Drew Lock from their college days at Mizzou and it's shown. In addition to his two big plays in the red zone Sunday, Okwuegbunam let a touchdown or two clang off his hands back in Week 6 against New England. He's a difficult matchup in the red zone and the more consistently he completes plays, the bigger threat he'll be.

NOVEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Another close call: Chargers lose big lead, fall to Broncos

The Los Angeles Chargers blew another big lead in a season full of them

NOVEMBER 2, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS