The Denver Broncos are about to come to a crossroads. This decision will have nothing to do with starting quarterback Trevor Siemian, whom many fans have turned on in this recent time of woe. It also has nothing to do with kicker Brandon McManus, who has had a bit of the yips, making just 61.5 percent of his field goals after adding three years and $11.25 million to his previous contract.

The Broncos’ decision that must be made (and made sooner rather than later) is in regard to players soon eligible to join (or re-join) the 53-man roster. Two players are about to become eligible and able to return: Shane Ray coming off injured reserve and Jake Butt from the non-football injury list. Both are players who can make an impact, and both are players the Broncos could certainly use, but it comes at a cost – the cost of a much-needed roster spot.

The NFL injured reserve, for those of you who don’t know, is a spot where teams can place the wounded. Any number of players can be placed on the injured reserve. The players placed on IR can and will be paid, and that money is counted against a team’s salary cap; however, a player on injured reserve does not count against the 53-man roster. NFL teams use the injured reserve to their advantage, in order to stow and stash banged-up ballers for later use. The roster size of 53 is small, and each spot is valued highly by every NFL franchise.

Shane Ray returned to practice this week and is already assigned to return from injured reserve (presumably on Oct. 30 against his hometown Kansas City Chiefs). This is a huge get for the Broncos and could be the biggest addition for the team during the 2017 season. Returning Shane Ray to the 53-man roster, is a no brainer, and the sooner, the better.

Thus far in the 2017 season, the side opposite of Von Miller has produced little to no statistical output. Shaquil Barrett has recorded just two sacks, and the platoon of outside linebackers behind Von and Shaq has a combined sack total of zero. Ray’s return to the field ads depth and will add to disruption in the backfield of opposing offenses. Ray in 2016 had eight sacks and one forced fumble. His return will not only help this defense, it will once again solidify a position which went from deep to shallow the day he was assigned to injured reserve.

A second player possibly returning to the Broncos is tight end Jake Butt, and they could certainly use him – especially in the red zone.

The Broncos have the third-highest number of red-zone attempts per game this season, just behind the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. (That’s good.) In offensive red zone touchdowns per game, however, the Broncos are averaging just 1.8. That is a red zone percentage of 45 percent, just behind the New York Jets at 45.45. (That’s bad.) In the last three games, it was even shoddier. In the last three games, versus the Raiders, Bills and Giants, the Broncos have scored a TD in the red zone only 18.18 percent of the time. That is not acceptable, that is not Broncos football, but there could be a solution.

While Ray is a lock to return to the 53-man roster, Butt is a question mark. The John Mackey Award winner from Michigan started practice this week; he is now an option for the Broncos to bring back off NFI (Non Football Injury). NFI is reserved for players who had a non-football injury or were injured in an activity away from team activities. In the case of Jake Butt, he was NFI because he was injured while in college.

While we have no idea what Butt can do in the NFL, we do know he was a force in college. Often times, for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, Butt was the best player on the offensive side of the ball. In his four years in the Big 10, Butt made a living in and around the red zone. Butt in college had 1,648 yards receiving, averaging over 11 yards per reception. Butt also found pay dirt while donning the maize and blue, scoring 11 touchdowns. Butt not only caught passes, he opened holes in the running game. He was the security blanket for many QBs and he was a pain in the rear when preparing for the Wolverines. In college, Butt was no joke.

Butt, a first round talent, landed in the Broncos’ lap in the fifth round, but at some risk. Butt, in his very last college game, the Orange Bowl, tore his ACL. While Christian McCaffrey skipped his bowl game, not wanting to jeopardize his draft status, Butt played, and unfortunately it cost him – draft position and ultimately dollars.

Butt, who has been chomping at the bit to show his skill is finally back at practice and getting his butt in gear, learning this Broncos system. Butt, as a weapon in both receiving and blocking, could alleviate some of the red zone woes the Broncos have been going through. The Broncos need weapons, they need blocking, and Jake can do both. Adding Butt to this roster might mean someone else has to go, but when deciding if he should be on the 53-man roster, there are no “ifs,” there are no “ands,” there is only a Butt.

I’ll show myself out, go Broncos!