{"id":856019,"date":"2026-10-11T04:51:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T04:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/856019\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T04:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T04:51:40","slug":"ex-broncos-star-upchurch-likes-mims-but-wants-to-see-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/856019\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Broncos star Upchurch likes Mims but wants to see more"},"content":{"rendered":"

During Alumni Weekend last month, legendary Broncos<\/a> punt returner Rick Upchurch<\/a> ran into their current star returner.<\/p>\n

In Week 1, Marvin Mims Jr.<\/a> returned the 75th punt of his four-year career, officially qualifying him as the NFL\u2019s all-time leader in punt return average. His average is now at 15.7 entering Sunday\u2019s game at the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI told him, \u2018You\u2019re the top man as far as average is concerned,\u2019 and he said, \u2018Yeah, yeah,\u2019\u201d Upchurch said of seeing Mims two weeks ago when the Broncos treated former players to a 30-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Alumni Weekend. \u201cI said, \u2018You got to get a few more returns in that whole deal before you start talking about me.\u2019 He said, \u2018You\u2019re right.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Upchurch was asked how Mims stacks up when it comes to top punt returners in Denver history. Mims\u2019 average is well ahead of the 12.1 figure Upchurch had when playing for the Broncos from 1975-83, which is eighth in league history. But Upchurch made note of other statistics he accumulated.<\/p>\n

Upchurch had eight punt returns for touchdowns in his career to rank No. 4 all-time while Mims so far has just one. Four of Upchurch\u2019s returns came in 1976 season, which is tied for an NFL record, with two in the same game, also tied for the record. He had 248 total returns, well ahead of the 77 Mims now has. And his 3,008 return yards rank No. 11 in league history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s great, and it proves that he sets up field position for his team,\u201d Upchurch said of Mims\u2019 lofty average. \u201cThat\u2019s a great thing. But here\u2019s the thing when people ask me (about the best punt returner in team history). I don\u2019t want to sound arrogant or anything of that nature, but I\u2019m just going to do some facts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in his fourth year. I did this over nine years. He\u2019s got one touchdown and I had eight. \u2026 This man is doing a wonderful, phenomenal job as far as the Denver Broncos are concerned but that\u2019s only one record that he has broken as far as me. \u2026 He\u2019s got to do it over the long haul. He\u2019s at (77) returns now but I had 248. When he gets to 248 returns in his career, then we can start talking. When he gets to eight touchdowns in his career, we can start talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as Mims is concerned, he\u2019s not doing any bragging about his record. When asked about being the all-time leader, the wide receiver pointed toward teammates and special teams coordinators he has had since joining the Broncos as a second-round pick in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s cool,\u201d said Mims, whose career return average is well ahead of the 13.8 that New England\u2019s Marcus Jones has for second place. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to the groups that I\u2019ve had over the past three years. It\u2019s a great thing for this unit, the units of the past and the coaches in the past (and currently).\u201d<\/p>\n

Mims entered the season with a 15.8 average and with 74 career returns, so he needed just one in the Sept. 14 opener at Kansas City to move into the record books. He returned two for 36 yards on Monday Night Football in Denver\u2019s 31-10 loss, which left him at 15.9.<\/p>\n

Overall, though, things have not gone too well for Mims this season. Against the Chiefs, he aggravated a foot injury he had suffered in the Aug. 28 preseason finale against Minnesota and missed the next two games.<\/p>\n

Mims returned to action in last Sunday\u2019s 24-14 loss at San Francisco. But he had just one official return for no gain, and on that third-quarter play lost a critical fumble at the Denver 28. That enabled the 49ers to soon score a touchdown to take the lead for good at 10-3.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Mims said of the fumble. \u201cIt\u2019s football, but you got to correct it and make sure it just doesn\u2019t keep happening. You can\u2019t let it become a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

It looked to some as if Mims\u2019 forearm hit the ground before the ball came loose, which would have resulted in the fumble call being overturned on replay. But after a review, it was determined his wrist, which is considered part of the hand, first hit and the call stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was 50-50,\u201d Mims said of having later watched the replay. \u201cIt could be debated on back and forth. I\u2019m not going to worry about it. It is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his two games, the two-time Pro Bowl returner has three total punt returns for 36 yards, a 12.0 average. He hasn\u2019t returned any kickoffs this season, leaving his career average at 26.6 yards.<\/p>\n

Broncos coach Sean Payton has called who returns kickoffs this season game-by-game decisions. For Denver this season, running back RJ Harvey has six returns for a 29.3-yard average, wide receiver Kolbe Katsis has four for a 26.8 average, running back Tyler Badie has four for a 26.3 average and running back Jonah Coleman has one return for 27 yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of guys who have been pretty good at kickoff return, so it just kind of gives the other team different looks,\u201d the modest Mims said about not being used on kickoffs so far this season. \u201cSo it\u2019s been good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mims said his foot has \u201chealed up pretty good,\u201d so it remains to be seen if he could be back on kickoffs Sunday. It also will be seen what Mims\u2019 role will be at receiver with Pat Bryant having been placed on injured reserve Friday with an ankle injury suffered against the 49ers.<\/p>\n

The Broncos\u2019 top two receivers are Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. After that, they have Mims, Troy Franklin and Lil\u2019Jordan Humphrey.<\/p>\n

As for his punt-return average, Mims is hopeful it will stand up well for a number of years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something cool for sure, but hopefully I have a lot of years left and a lot of games left in the future,\u201d Mims said.<\/p>\n

Mims is in the final year of a four-year contract and it\u2019s uncertain whether he will be back in Denver next season. If he doesn\u2019t return, Upchurch won\u2019t be able to count on seeing him at a future Alumni Weekend.<\/p>\n

\"MarvinDenver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (19) is pursued by Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (24) during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Broncos won the game in overtime 33-30. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

Bonitto battles double teams<\/p>\n

Word started to really get out around the middle of last season about Nik Bonitto.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when the Broncos outside linebacker said he started seeing a lot of double teams on his pass rushes. Bonitto had 13.5 sacks in 2024 and had eight in Denver\u2019s first six games in 2025.<\/p>\n

Since then, the sacks haven\u2019t come nearly as frequently. Bonitto finished last season with a career-high 14, but with just six in the final 11 games.<\/p>\n

This season, Bonitto has just one sack in four games. Is he being affected by double teams?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s obviously something that a lot of great pass rushers have to go through and so it\u2019s nothing new on that front, honestly,\u201d said Bonitto, who has five total quarterback hits this season. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m rushing well. I\u2019m getting pressures. I\u2019m getting to the quarterback. Sometimes it\u2019s just how teams are playing us. We aren\u2019t allowed to get as many (pass) rushing attempts as we want to and we\u2019re not always playing with leads.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Broncos are 2-2, with their two losses being by double digits and their two wins having been in second-half comebacks. After having 68 sacks last season for an average of 4.0 per game, Denver has just eight so far this season for an average of 2.0.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nothing I\u2019m frustrated about,\u201d Bonitto, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, said of his start. \u201cI know I\u2019m rushing well. I knew when it comes a time where teams are going to pass (more) on us, I know my numbers are going to be up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Broncos have played all season without outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who remains on the NFL commissioner\u2019s exempt list. Cooper had 18.5 sacks the previous two seasons while taking some pressure off Bonitto.<\/p>\n

Cooper\u2019s replacement, Jonah Elliss, has yet to record a sack this season and has just one quarterback hit. But Bonitto insisted that Cooper being out has not affected his performance.<\/p>\n

\"BroncosBroncos cornerback Pat Surtain II warms up before dressing out for the game before the second-round game of the AFC playoffs at Empower Field at Mile Hi on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m hearing<\/p>\n

\u2014 For the second straight year, the Broncos elected not to put star cornerback Pat Surtain II on injured reserve after being hurt. Last season, he suffered a pectoral injury in Week 8 against Dallas and made it back after missing three games. Injured reserve would have shelved him for four. After suffering a non-contact ankle injury against the 49ers, Surtain again was not shelved. He will miss games Sunday and next Thursday against Seattle and possibly Oct. 25 at Arizona. But the Broncos hope he can be back Nov. 1 against Kansas City. In the meantime, he will be replaced by the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Kris Abrams-Draine for the second straight year. \u201cI have no doubts about him,\u2019\u2019 Bonitto said. \u201cHe\u2019s intelligent, he\u2019s competitive, he wants to make a play on the ball every time it\u2019s in the air or comes to him. He\u2019s very physical for a smaller guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 With Denver struggling on offense and Payton having taken back play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb, tackle Mike McGlinchey said it\u2019s a collective effort for the Broncos to get things humming. \u201cIt\u2019s just in the details,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI think collectively we all have to be better. I think it\u2019s a stringing of a block a little bit longer. It\u2019s a hand placement here or there. It\u2019s a tighter angle in the run game. It\u2019s a tighter angle digging out support players at the skill positions. And then it\u2019s executing the pass game and whether it\u2019s protection, route running, whatever it is, we all to be better together.\u201d<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m seeing<\/p>\n

\u2014 After taking over play calling, Payton gets Sunday what could amount to be a warmup game for the Broncos before the Seahawks on a short week. The Chargers started their practice week Wednesday by listing 18 players as either not participating or limited. By Friday, they had put tackle Rashawn Slater on injured reserve and listed seven players as out for Sunday, one as doubtful and five as questionable. On Saturday, the team put offensive lineman Trevor Penning, who had been listed as out and quarterback Trey Lance, who had been listed as doubtful, on injured reserve. In addition to Slater, key players out Sunday for the Chargers are tackle Joe Alt, safety Derwin James Jr. and wide receiver Quentin Johnston.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mims isn\u2019t the lonely Denver player who might be holding an NFL record this season. Kicker Wil Lutz has made 104 straight extra points, tied for the second most since the NFL moved the distance of the attempt back from 20 yards to 33 in 2015. Justin Tucker has the longest streak, having made 112 in a row for Baltimore from 2015-18, while Tyler Bass converted 104 straight from 2020-22 for Buffalo. When asked about Lutz having made 104 in a row, Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi knocked on wood and said, \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"During Alumni Weekend last month, legendary Broncos punt returner Rick Upchurch ran into their current star returner. In…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":856020,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3781],"tags":[7,86641,301,187,3943,94417,29260,6,19559,302,100796,8131,42243],"class_list":["post-856019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-denver-nuggets","tag-basketball","tag-davis-webb","tag-denver","tag-denver-nuggets","tag-denvernuggets","tag-marvin-mims-jr","tag-mike-mcglinchey","tag-nba","tag-nik-bonitto","tag-nuggets","tag-rick-upchurch","tag-sean-payton","tag-wil-lutz"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/117420483492580401","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=856019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/856019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/856020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=856019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=856019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=856019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}