Demaryius Thomas – Noteworthy
WR Demaryius Thomas, whose return to Denver was acknowledged in a pregame scoreboard video tribute showing some of his greatest plays during 7 1/2 years with the Broncos, had two catches for 49 yards on the Texans’ game-opening scoring drive.
Thomas wasn’t heavily involved — he caught all three targets — but his early 31-yard reception helped set up Houston’s first touchdown on its initial drive and got some early jitters out of the way.
“It was very good. It was great,” Thomas said of his early touches. “I’m sure they didn’t expect that, get started quick, make them play us both. It was good for us.”
Thomas was Denver’s first-round draft pick in 2010 and became one of the best in club history. He finished third in receptions (665) and second in receiving yards (9,055) and TDs (60) but with Denver below .500, the $14 million cap hit through 2019 made him expendable.
Thomas said he appreciated everything the Broncos did for him — the banner, the video tribute before the game and the time he spent with the organization. But it was obvious he was ready to move on, and being on a first-place team is a better situation for him.
“I wanted to win bad, not for just me but for the guys that have been working hard and won five in a row,” he said.
