ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood, who was signed in the offseason and having a promising preseason, tore his ACL in a joint practice with the Houston Texans Wednesday, and will miss the entire 2014 season, the team confirmed.
Norwood caught 36 passes for 405 yards and a touchdown during three seasons with the Browns before spending the 2013 season out of football.
Despite being tasked with the tough job of catching on as a wide receiver with the Broncos, who have one of the most talented receiving groups in the NFL, Norwood appeared as though he might do just that.
In the team’s 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason opener, Norwood caught three passes for 51 yards, including the game-winning 34-yard touchdown pass from Brock Osweiler, and made several players miss on one 20-yard punt return.
Norwood also logged one punt return for 17 yards in the team’s 34-0 win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Since the Broncos are looking for a return specialist to replace Trindon Holliday, who they did not re-sign this offseason, the skills Norwood had shown in that department helped him stand out.
Before Norwood started making waves, most suspected flashy rookie Isaiah Burse, who went undrafted out of Fresno State, would end up winning the job as the team’s return specialist. Burse may very well re-assume the lead to take over that position after Norwood’s injury.
Norwood wasn’t the only player to leave the joint practice with an injury Wednesday. Houston defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL this May, also left midway through the practice with what was being called a neck injury.
There was no word on the severity of Clowney’s injury as of Wednesday afternoon.