ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When the time comes on Saturday for the Broncos to suit up in their game uniforms, there may be no one more excited than Jake Butt.
It's been one year, seven months and eight days (as of Tuesday) since Butt last took the field during a football game, and he's already feeling the excitement in anticipation of getting his first taste of NFL game action.
"It's going to feel great getting out there, putting on the game uniform, being in our stadium and actually playing," Butt said. "That's going to be the best part, just kind of running out of that tunnel."
Since recovering from the ACL tear that he suffered in his final college game, Butt has relentlessly worked to prepare himself for his return and to get back to feeling comfortable on the field.
"It's going to feel great to make that first hit, to catch a ball and get hit," Butt said, "all that good stuff that you miss about football."
As the days remaining in training camp get fewer, every yard and every rep becomes more important.
Running back Devontae Booker (23) stretches out for extra yardage during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Tight end Jeff Heuerman (82) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Guard Max Garcia (76) and tackle Jeremiah Poutasi (74) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Corey "Philly" Brown (5) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (17) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Outside linebacker Stansly Maponga (59) applies tape to his fingers during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive end Zach Kerr (92) laughs during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Nose tackle Domata Peko Sr. (94) takes a moment to rest while he pulls on his jersey before the stretching period during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Cornerback Marcus Rios (38) pulls on his helmet during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Nose tackle Domata Peko Sr. (94) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Guard Connor McGovern (60) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Tackle Menelik Watson (75) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Tight end Matt LaCosse (83) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Tight end Jake Butt (80) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Chad Kelly (6) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Jordan Leslie (19) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (16) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Dave Williams (36) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Devontae Booker (23) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Royce Freeman (37) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Royce Freeman (37) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver John Diarse (9) makes a one-handed catch during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Fans during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive tackle DeShawn Williams (93) and defensive lineman Clinton McDonald (98) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive end Zach Kerr (92) and nose tackle Kyle Peko (90) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive end Zach Kerr (92) and nose tackle Kyle Peko (90) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) and defensive end DeMarcus Walker (57) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14), wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) and cornerback C.J. Smith (28) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Defensive tackle DeShawn Williams (93) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) and cornerback Isaac Yiadom (41) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Dave Williams (36) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws over outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (48) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Cornerback Marcus Rios (38) wraps up wide receiver River Cracraft (15) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria (40) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) rushes against tackle Garett Bolles (72) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Devontae Booker (23) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Devontae Booker (23) dives for the end zone during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Royce Freeman (37) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Tackle Leon Johnson (63) blocks against linebacker Marcus Rush (49) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Nose tackle Domata Peko Sr. (94) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) and Quarterbacks Coach Mike Sullivan fist bump during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) nearly deflects quarterback Case Keenum (4)'s pass for tight end Jake Butt (80) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Guard Ron Leary (65) prepares to block for running back Royce Freeman (37) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Quarterback Case Keenum (4) talks with wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back De'Angelo Henderson Sr. (33) points upfield to set up a block during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back De'Angelo Henderson Sr. (33) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) smiles during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Cornerback Isaac Yiadom (41) reaches to deflect a pass during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Inside linebacker Josey Jewell (47) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway throws to defensive linemen during a pass-deflecting drill during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway throws to defensive linemen during a pass-deflecting drill during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Running back Royce Freeman (37) during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (16) smiles as he stretches during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) carries extra pads on his shoulders, nearly covering his entire head, during the ninth day of training camp on August 7, 2018, at UCHealth Training Center.
As the Broncos prepare for that game, they released their initial depth chart. Butt is listed as the second-team tight end behind Jeff Heuerman. The former Michigan Wolverine isn't dismayed about that, though.
"Like kind of what V.J. [Head Coach Vance Joseph] said, the depth chart is just a starting point," Butt said. "We all have roles on this team. We're still working to try to earn a role on this team and earn opportunities, so the main thing is for me to just try to become the best tight end I can be, the best player I can be and the best teammate I can be."
That work continues Saturday against the Vikings, and for Butt, he'll be able to do so against some familiar faces, which makes the game even more exciting for him.
"I've also got two buddies, [center] Pat Elflein and [outside linebacker] Ben Gedeon, on the Vikings — two friends that I go way back with," Butt said. "I'm excited to hit Ben [and] I'm sure he's excited to him me, and hopefully we come home with the win."
