New way to get Jerry Jeudy involved had instant impact for Broncos’ offense

For seven weeks, Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy rehabilitated his high ankle sprain with the intent of contributing in the season’s second half.

Simultaneously, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Co. were evidently plotting ways to expand Jeudy’s impact upon his return.

Both — Jeudy’s return to full speed and Shurmur’s new ideas — were on display in Sunday’s stunning 30-16 win over Dallas.

In his first two games, Week 1 against the New York Giants and Week 8 against Washington, respectively, Jeudy didn’t catch a pass less than two yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The average “air” yards for his 10 catches was 8.5 yards.

But against the Cowboys, four of Jeudy’s team-high six catches were caught one yard beyond the line or behind the line. His average “air” yards was 3.5 yards. He finished with 69 yards and his pre-snap motion and tunnel/bubble screen catches will make teams such as Philadelphia on Sunday re-consider how to deploy its defensive backs.

“Jerry is one of the best guys in the league with the ball in his hands,” quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said. “Very explosive.”

To that end, the Broncos mixed in some deep throws to Jeudy with the aforementioned quick passes. A breakdown of his six catches:

1. Jeudy ran a right-to-left over route and made a fine leaping catch for 25 yards (six yards post-catch).

2. Lined up on the inside of a three-receiver set, Jeudy caught the quick pass behind the line and gained five yards before unblocked linebacker Micah Parsons made the tackle.

3. From the left slot, Jeudy ran a shallow cross, caught the pass three yards downfield and gained six when he broke a tackle attempt.

4. Jeudy motioned from left to right, looped around Bridgewater, and motioned back to the left. He had to contort his body to catch the pass five yards behind the line but had open turf to gain 20 yards. On the play, it appeared linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was assigned to Jeudy and he was out of position when receiver Tim Patrick semi-screened him.

5. Again, Jeudy went in motion from right to left, but lost three yards on a quick pass when he landed awkwardly.

6. Jeudy ran a jet motion from left to right and Bridgewater’s quick throw allowed him to easily out-run safety Jayron Kearse, who bit on tight end Albert Okwuegbunam’s inside route. Jeudy gained 16 yards (15 post-catch).