After the Denver Broncos traded away veteran wide receiver Demaryius Thomas last season, the team asked second-round draft pick Courtland Sutton to step up as a top-two receiver.
Then, after Emmanuel Sanders suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, Sutton was thrust into a No. 1 receiver role. Though he wasn’t expecting to be a No. 1 that early, the experience helped Sutton gain experience.
“There were a lot of learning lessons [last year],” Sutton said during a press conference Tuesday. “A lot of what was expected of a No. 1.
“I’m taking all of those lessons that I learned from those last four games and taking them into this season and taking those expectations and going to run with them. Now I know what is expected of me. I’ll make sure that I do what I’m supposed to do.”
As a rookie, Sutton hauled in 42 receptions for 704 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 16.8 yards per reception. Denver will expect him to post even better numbers in 2019.
