Okwuegbunam could see an increased role early in the season, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.
With starting tight end Noah Fant sidelined with a leg injury since Aug. 19, Okwuegbunam could be called upon to take over the top spot at the position if Fant is unable to return for the season opener. Coach Vic Fangio believes Fant will return for Week 1, but said Okwuegbunam is "definitely ready" to take on No. 1 tight end role if needed. The 23-year-old appears ready to take a step forward in Denver's offense, and it's plausible to think that the coaching staff will look to get him more involved in the passing game. The Broncos used two-tight-end sets for nearly 40 percent of their snaps in the Broncos' preseason finale, which may hint at an intention to also deploy it frequently during the regular season. Nonetheless, it may be difficult for the 6-foot-5, 258-pounder to find a level of consistency in a Broncos offense littered with talented pass catchers. Okwuegbunam's clearest path to fantasy relevance would come if Fant is forced to miss an extended period of time.