ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A grin chased the grimace from Greg Dulcich’s face as the Denver Broncos ‘ star-crossed tight end peered toward the side field at the team’s training complex following Wednesday’s practice.
Over the past two years, Dulcich has practically worn out the grass on the side field where injured players work out while trying to return.
Dulcich missed seven games his rookie season in 2022 and played in parts of just two games last year because of recurring hamstring injuries. He also injured a foot while attempting his second comeback from injured reserve in 2024.
This year, he missed all of the Broncos’ OTAs and minicamp.
So far, however, he’s practiced all three ramp-up workouts and all five practices of training camp, flashing both the talent that made him a third-round pick out of UCLA and a new gait that the team’s medical strength and training staffs hope will keep him on the right field.
“It’s been so nice getting to play football again, getting to be on the correct field during practice with my teammates,” Dulcich said. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s a blessing, for sure.”
Dulcich was expected to be a big part of coach Sean Payton’s offense last year but he didn’t make it past halftime of the opener against Las Vegas or in his return at Kansas City in Week 6. When he was finally ready to come off IR again, a foot injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
In his absence, the Broncos began developing 6-6 tight end Lucas Krull, but Dulcich so far has Payton cautiously optimistic about a key role again this season.
“I’m watching him make progress and encouraged by how he’s doing,” Payton said. “I see him, I’m like, ‘Man, you’re looking good.’”
Payton said the only time he thinks about Dulcich’s history of injuries is when he scripts practices, making sure to limit his reps or to schedule him a day off.
Payton said all the games Dulcich has missed has probably stunted his growth as a blocker, but he relayed a story about drafting Jimmy Graham in New Orleans and getting a call from his mentor, Bill Parcells, who told him not to hold back Graham’s playing time even if he couldn’t block particular runs.
“So, there’s certain things with Greg, we’re going to ask him to do in the run game and then there’s certain things we’re not going to ask him to do,” Payton said. “And so certainly I see him as a space player, a guy who can maybe give us matchup advantages and then we’ll be smart” about using him as a blocker.
Dulcich said he doesn’t really think about his injury history that much, either.
“I’m feeling good right now, stacking days,” he said. “I was glad to be able to come out Day 1 and do everything.”
The Broncos got some bad news Wednesday when they lost sixth-year offensive tackle Quinn Bailey to a broken right ankle.
“It’s devastating,” Dulcich said. “Nothing but prayers for Quinn.”
Payton said his top backup tackle was primed for another season like last year when he played in every game as part of the Broncos’ jumbo formations.
“It’s one of the grim realities of our game,” Payton said.
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