When the Broncos acquired Jaylen Waddle in March, expectations were sky-high. After a long offseason, fans were eager to finally watch him on the field with Bo Nix.
Fast forward three weeks, and the results are not exactly what the fans expected. Already, the Waddle experience has been topsy-turvy, leaving fans wondering why it hasn’t been smooth sailing.
Subpar Start to the Year
In Week 1 on Monday Night Football, all eyes were on Waddle. However, in the eyes of many, his debut was a disappointment. Waddle finished the game with one catch for two yards, with his most memorable play being a brutal third-down drop.
Granted, Waddle wasn’t the only underperformer for Denver. The Chiefs pummeled the Broncos, winning 31-10. Nix had a mere 131 passing yards, while throwing a pick and fumbling three times. Meanwhile, Denver’s team was missing tackles left and right, as they allowed Kansas City running back Kenneth Walker to rumble for 173 yards.
Some fans were quick to defend Waddle after that game, and rightfully so. It was his first game on a new team, his first game with Nix, and offensive coordinator Davis Webb‘s first game calling plays. Plus, that’s not even to mention the poor performance from the defense. Waddle had to show in Week 2 that his debut was a fluke, and that’s exactly what he did.
Bouncing Back in Week 2
In Week 2 versus the Jaguars, Waddle looked like everything Denver fans had expected and more. He went off, posting eight catches for 138 yards. He even made a stellar 49-yard grab to get the Broncos to the one-yard line.
Denver’s home opener made the season opener look like a fluke. Nix threw for 288 yards and a touchdown, leading a second-half comeback from down 13-3 in typical Broncos fashion. Meanwhile, the defense looked much better and, especially in the second half, Webb’s playcalling seemed perfectly fine, as Denver won 20-13.
Accepting this version as the new normal, Denver fans went into Week 3 with high hopes for Waddle. However, that game is the one that has fans the most confused.
Week 3 Confuses the Fans
In Week 1, Waddle struggled, but so did Nix and the rest of the team. Then, in Week 2, Waddle dominated, as did Nix and the defense. It seems as though a pattern is emerging.
In Week 3, the Broncos pulled off a 16-point comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26. Nix threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns, with 133 of them coming in the second half. Meanwhile, Denver safety Talanoa Hufanga picked off Stafford twice: once for a pick-six, and the other to win the game. So surely Waddle at least had a decent game, right? Wrong.
Waddle finished the game with only two catches for 10 yards, tacking on his second drop in three games. Granted, he made a huge catch on a two-point conversion, but fans were still baffled by his production, or lack thereof.
At first, it looked like Week 1 was a fluke and Week 2 was the real deal. Now, Denver fans are starting to raise some questions. So what could be causing his strange start to the season?
What’s Causing Waddle’s Woes?
The first factor to consider with Waddle’s numbers is the system. Coach Sean Payton has always been one to spread the production around. Last season, Denver had six different players post 300 receiving yards. For reference, neither the Los Angeles Rams nor the Seattle Seahawks, two elite teams, had more than four. Furthermore, the Broncos’ top receiver last year, Courtland Sutton, didn’t even average 60 yards per outing. Occasional games with minimal production are just par for the course in a Payton offense.
Another factor to consider is his connection with Nix. Waddle has essentially only ever played with Tua Tagovailoa, both in the NFL and in college. Every quarterback has their own style, so after getting accustomed to one for almost eight years, it can be quite an adjustment.
Additionally, they are very different quarterbacks. Tagovailoa is not known for his arm strength, causing Waddle to often come back to the ball. Nix, on the other hand, has a rocket for an arm. Not to mention, Tagovailoa is a lefty, and going from a lefty to a righty or vice versa can also invoke a learning curve.
Is It Waddle or the Shot-Callers?
The final factor to consider is the playcalling and scheming. With his speed, deep threat ability, and steady hands, Payton has yet to have a weapon like Waddle in Denver. Thus, he is resolute about maximizing his talent. The only issue is that it does not yet seem like he has done so.
For years, Payton has made comments about receiver Marvin Mims, highlighting his versatility and suggesting creative ways to get him the ball. However, oftentimes Mims is underutilized, getting put in only for gadget plays.
Payton and Webb have been experimenting with Waddle in the backfield, which may not be the best fit for him. Payton also likes to mix in a lot of personnel, featuring multiple tight ends and running backs. Additionally, he likes to have Sutton and Pat Bryant on the field regularly due to their size and blocking. As such, Waddle can occasionally feel like an odd man out.
All this to say, it’s only been three weeks. Yes, Webb is a rookie playcaller, and yes, Waddle hasn’t been fantastic; however, there is still plenty of time. More likely than not, Waddle’s shortcomings have stemmed from a combination of all the aforementioned factors. However, on the bright side, all of those issues can be solved by time.
As the season progresses, Waddle will become more comfortable with Nix. Payton will help find ways to creatively get him involved, assisting his OC as Webb develops a rhythm with his offense.
Though the start of the season has been a weird one for Waddle, it’s still so early. In a Payton offense, don’t expect Jaxon Smith-Njigba numbers. However, with this season now in full swing, expect more of Week 2 Waddle and less of Weeks 1 and 3 Waddle.
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