Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy closed the 2022 season by reaching a career single-game high for receiving yards. In the Broncos’ 31-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 8, the former Alabama All-American caught five passes for 154 yards.

With 18 receptions for 309 yards in Denver’s final three games, Jeudy nearly reached 1,000 receiving yards for the season, likely kept from the milestone by an ankle injury suffered on the first snap against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 13 that caused him to miss the rest of that game and the next two, too.

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Jeudy’s finish to the 2022 season might have given the Broncos an extra push to pick up their option on his contract for the 2024 season. If it did, Denver general manager George Paton didn’t let on when asked on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine on the team’s stance toward using Jeudy’s fifth-year option.

“Really happy with how Jerry finished off the season, especially the last couple of games,” Paton said. “And we make those decisions, I believe, in May – right near the draft, we’ll make that decision. But really happy with where Jerry’s at.”

The deadline for the Broncos to exercise their option on Jeudy’s contract for the 2024 season is May 1.

When Jeudy joined Denver from Alabama as the 15th player picked in the 2020 NFL Draft, he signed a four-year contract worth $15.193 million. If the Broncos use their option, they would guarantee Jeudy an estimated payday of $12.987 million — the average of the third- to 25th-highest salaries for wide receivers over the past five seasons – for the 2024 campaign.

After posting 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns in the 2022 season, Jeudy has 157 receptions for 2,295 yards and nine touchdowns in his NFL career.

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During Jeudy’s time in the NFL, 33 players – 30 wide receivers and three tight ends – have at least as many receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions as he does.

Among the wide receivers in his draft class, Jeudy ranks fifth in receptions, eighth in yards and 11th in touchdown receptions.

Jeudy was the second wide receiver selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders chose his Alabama teammate Henry Ruggs III at No. 12.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.