No, the season’s not lost. There’s still plenty of reason of hope; we’ve seen this story before.

That said, it’s okay to be a little nervous.

Safe to say, things aren’t going great in Broncos Country. The offense has long since sputtered to a stop, and nobody knows if AAA is going to get here in time for us to get revved back up and on to Houston. Defensively, it’s status quo in the back end, but the defensive line has taken a massive step back, tumbling near the bottom of all run defenses in the NFL.

Denver has lost three of their last five games, and the primetime loss to the Oakland Raiders has set many a Broncos fan over the edge.

So what’s wrong?

Simply, not everyone is living up to expectations, especially these five players.

(NOTE: You won’t find Trevor Siemian on this list, because for as poor as he’s played, he has not failed to meet expectations. In fact, this is exactly what we should have expected from a seventh-round, second-year quarterback who had yet to start a NFL game.)

Atlas (655x81)5. Jeff Heuerman

Heuerman, BroncosRemember this guy? The tight end John Elway pulled the trigger on in the third round of the NFL draft? That’s panned out, huh?

I could care less that he missed his rookie season with a torn ACL — that happens. What concerns me is that he’s been completely invisible this season. So invisible that Elway went out and gave up another draft pick to trade for a tight end the New England Patriots selected three rounds after Heuerman, A.J. Derby.

What gives?

Heuerman was supposed to be the future, and yet he’s hauled in a grand total of two receptions for 48 yards in six games.

It’s only been a few weeks, but at best Heuerman is a disappointment; at worst he’s a bust.