This is not exactly the Brandon Lloyd the Redskins remember.
After nine games this season, the Broncos receiver is leading the NFL with 968 receiving yards — already 235 more than his previous season high.
Lloyd had one of the least productive seasons for a starting wide receiver in 2006 with Washington. He had just 23 receptions, 365 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (12 starts). His game high in receiving yards came in a one-catch, 52-yard performance against the Titans.
Lloyd followed that season up with two catches for 14 yards in 2007. He was inactive for disciplinary reasons before being put on injured reserve. And that was his two-year stint with the Redskins: 23 games, 13 starts, 25 catches and 379 yards.
But Lloyd has excelled in the Broncos’ pass-heavy offense this season. He had the third-most receiving yards in NFL history through his team’s first eight games while averaging 20 yards per catch.
In his eighth season, Lloyd has become one of the league’s best big-play receivers.
But he isn’t the only wideout that has come out of nowhere to have a career season.
At USC, Mike Williams was one of the most dominant college receivers ever. He had 176 catches, 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns as a freshman and sophomore. It led to Williams being selected No. 10 in the NFL Draft in 2005, but he never lived up to expectations. After the 2007 season, Williams was already out of the league and ballooned to nearly 300 pounds.
But Seattle coach Pete Carroll, Williams’ former college coach, signed his former recruit in the offseason. Williams got back into playing shape and is flourishing with his second chance. He leads the NFC West-leading Seahawks with 46 receptions and 545 yards in the season for receiving redemption.
