The Denver Broncos took to the field Monday morning on the last day of July, just 11 days before their first pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals and just like that, lost two key pieces to their receiving corps.
Wide receiver, K.J. Hamler was waived by the Broncos with a non-football injury after it was discovered that Hamler was diagnosed with a mild heart irritation called pericarditis. Hamler experienced chest pains while on break before camp which led to his diagnosis.
While Hamler’s return isn’t guaranteed, the wide receiver had this to say on Instagram, “I will be back on the field – better and stronger than ever – as soon as possible this season. I feel great physically and this is frustrating for me to deal with…this is not a farewell. This is not a goodbye. This is a see you as soon as I take a break for my health.”
Additionally the Denver Broncos lost wide receiver Tim Patrick after he went down on his first rout of the morning. Patrick was then carted off the field and returned on crutches. Coach Sean Payton said it appeared to be the left Achilles that Patrick injured on Monday.
Patrick was expected to be a big part of Denver’s offense after his season ending injury he suffered almost one year to the day of his Achilles injury. Patrick worked hard rehabbing a torn ACL from last season, which kept him sidelined until recently.
With two key pieces out for the foreseeable future the Broncos now have some decisions to make at wide receiver. The Broncos have been plagued with injuries for years it seems and the latest injuries to the team gives credence to the cursed narrative.
In other sports the Colorado Rockies have done what they do best…trade one of their best hitters. Although it wasn’t a Matt Holiday, or Troy Tulowitzki, the trade of C.J. Cron to the Angels is just more lemon and salt on a an almost twenty year festering wound. Randal Grichuk was included in the trade, along with an additional $3,701,613.
While Rockies fans already know what they’re losing in Cron, it’s important for them to know what they get in return for him. The Colorado Rockies receive pitching prospects Mason Albright, and Jake Madden. It’s been apparent for sometime that the Rockies are in need of upgrades to the bullpen and while some fans may not be thrilled about another slugger leaving town, it’s necessary to help a strug- gling and defunct bullpen.
The Colorado Rockies are 1 and 4 in their last five games with their only win coming against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday at Coors Field. The Rockies kick off a three-game series with the San Diego Padres this week at Coors Field before heading to St. Louis to face the Cardinals in a three-game series. The Rockies are currently in last place of the National League almost 27 games behind the league leading Atlanta Braves. The Rockies are currently 18.5 games behind the National League L.A. Dodgers.
