Broncos third-year defensive end Kenny Anunike is a good dude. He has a beaming smile. His teammates like him immensely. And he’s been a bright-eyed, 6-foot-5, 275-pound community ambassador for the Broncos.
Just last week he hosted a movie screening for 75 kids from the Boys and Girls Club. But all that good work he’s done that helped him earn the Broncos 2015 Community Ambassador award has come in part because of all the free time he’s had on his hands. In his two years since signing as a college free agent from Duke he’s seen action in just three games.
An elbow injury ended his rookie season before it even began. Last year he was sidelined before Thanksgiving.
On Monday the Denver Post reported that Anunike will start the 2016 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. It’s a bad sign for a guy who missed most of his first two seasons in the league and significant time in college (including five surgeries) with a variety of injuries. Anunike is one of the good guys, struck down by bad luck on the injury front.
Anunike is expected to compete with a host of players to replace the departed Malik Jackson. It’s a disappointing setback for a player who by character alone deserves a chance to play alongside such an accomplished defensive unit.
