The Lead
On National Tight Ends Day, Denver's tight ends found a rhythm.
After the Broncos found themselves trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman both found the end zone in the second quarter to jump start a 28-0 run for Denver en route to the team's fifth win. The breakout performance marked the Broncos' first game this season with a touchdown reception from a tight end.
For Trautman, this type of production has been the goal for him and his teammates all season long.
"It's actually kind of crazy how it did happen on this day in particular," Trautman said following Sunday's win. "No, we didn't have a meeting, we actually forgot our shirts too at the facility that they hand out to all the tight ends across the league. It was good to have this type of performance on that day."
Trautman had the most productive game of his career, posting 85 receiving yards and a 37-yard catch-and-run to set up Denver's first touchdown drive of the day. His touchdown reception was an impressive one-handed catch on what he noted was a near-perfect throw from quarterback Bo Nix.
"He does a lot of things well," Head Coach Sean Payton said of Trautman. "He's versatile, he's smart. It was a heck of a read. We got a blitz. They kind of played a little cloud [coverage] behind the blitz. [It was a] real good throw and catch. You know what you're going to get, so there's a value in that as a coach if you know what you're going to get in a player each week."
Trautman praised the efforts of the rest of his group, noting that the increased production "opens up a lot of things" on the field. Adkins, who recorded the first touchdown reception of his career, echoed this sentiment.
"I think we all had a pretty good day today," Adkins said. "I think whenever the ball was in the air, everybody was going out there and trying to make a play. It ended up being a good day for us."
As the Broncos move forward, Trautman and Adkins hope the breakout performance is only the beginning for the group this season.
"It was good to get us going," Trautman said. "[It] feels good, and hopefully we just continue to build on it."
