Broncos WR KJ Hamler Dishes on What Held him Back in 2022

Denver Broncos wide receiver KJ Hamler has been through an incredible journey of physical and mental torment, which could easily have broken a lesser man. Just getting back on the field last season was a significant achievement for Hamler, but as is the case with all major injuries, the body can subsequently break down in other ways.

The 23-year-old's key asset is his speed, but a nagging hamstring injury and a still-recovering knee led to Hamler being featured in only a half-dozen games in 2022. Catching just seven passes for 165 yards is bound to raise questions about his overall value, especially as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract.

The stakes couldn’t be any higher for the former Penn State Nittany Lion as he attacks his recovery program.

“I feel like I get to really build strength instead of rehabbing it and getting everything right,” Hamler said back in January. “I’m taking all the right steps to get my knee right because that was the biggest challenge. I wasn’t really able to build strength or build muscle. I’m going to do everything. It’s time to work.”

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The ongoing focus for Hamler this offseason will be on getting to a much better level of game shape overall — something that was missing previously. Fellow Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick will also be on the comeback trail after suffering a torn ACL last summer. Patrick's notorious work ethic might help Hamler in his quest to add some vital strength.

Should Hamler and Patrick successfully return to full fitness, new head coach Sean Payton will be flush with four explosive wideouts to work as he builds his new offense. Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy will assume top billing, while Patrick is a lock as the undisputed third-string pass-catcher.

Hamler’s game-breaking abilities make him a perfect fit as quarterback Russell Wilson’s fourth option and one he might look toward when he’s in a long-yardage pinch. Stretching opposing defenses is bound to be incorporated into Payton’s new, much more expansive offense.

Should the offensive brainchild find himself playing with a full deck, it’s bound to open things up considerably for Wilson and the Broncos. Therefore, Payton is likely encouraged by Hamler’s determination to hit the field in the best shape possible.

Like all arduous, long-term recoveries, overcoming the obstacle hinges on taking steps forward while maintaining a positive state of mind. Hamler has had to navigate a few past challenges, so cultivating that positivity gives him a fighting chance to be the game-breaking difference maker the Broncos have always believed he could be when they invested a second-round draft pick into him back in 2020.

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