Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning: Cody Latimer can 'play a big role' for the Broncos

Published Apr. 30, 2015 2:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Everyone is high on second-year pro Cody Latimer for next season.

Including the man responsible for getting him the ball.

"He (Latimer) knows that he's got a chance to play a big role on this team and I'm excited for him," Peyton Manning told ESPN. "He didn't get an opportunity to play a lot last year. So, I'm pulling for him and I think he can make an impact on the team this year."

Manning had a lot to do with Latimer's limited reps. Many rookie receivers broke out in 2014, but few had to be on the same page with an all-time great at quarterback. Latimer told the Denver Post he struggled to keep Peyton's pace in 2014.

It sounds like the Indiana product is adapting to pro life in year two. He joined his quarterback at a passing summit at Duke University and that's when Manning noticed the difference.

"I tell you I really enjoyed the work," Manning said. "I saw a little change in him just in those four months since I had seen him. I could tell he's been working on his own."

That kind of extra effort goes miles with a workaholic like Manning. Expect to see a lot more of Latimer if he can keep it up.

(h/t ESPN)