Rookie tight end Noah Fant walked into the Broncos locker room after the first practice back from 53-man roster cuts this past weekend and the stark reality of the NFL hit home.
Make plays or get sent home.
“It’s a different feeling,” he said, “a lot of empty lockers.”
Fant was never in jeopardy of being released as Denver traded back to draft him No. 20 overall last spring. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, snagged 19 touchdown catches at Iowa and continues to build muscle on an athletic 6-foot-4, 249-pound frame.