Players

DECKER AT A GLANCE:
• A third-year wide receiver who led the Broncos in receptions (44) and receiving yards (612) in his first year as a starter in 2011 while totaling the second most receiving touchdowns (8) in team history by a player in his first or second season.
• Set career-highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,064) and receiving touchdowns (13) in 2012.
• Ranked second in the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions and set a Broncos record for receiving scores over a two-year span (21 from 2011-12).
• Became just the third player in team annals to record at least eight receiving touchdowns in back-to-back seasons (2010-11).
• Along with fellow third-year receiver Demaryius Thomas, was part of the NFL’s third-ranked receiving tandem with 2,498 combined yards, ranked first with 23 combined touchdowns and became the first Broncos 1,000-yard receiving duo since 2004.
• Recorded the third-longest punt return for a touchdown (90 yds.) in franchise history vs. Oakland (9/12/11) in his first game returning punts at any level.
• Selected to the 2011 USA Football All-Fundamentals Team for exhibiting exemplary football techniques for youth players to emulate.
• Played 14 games (0 starts) as a rookie in 2010 and led the Broncos in kickoff return yards (556), while tying for third on the club with nine special-teams tackles.
• Totaled six receptions for 106 yards (17.7 avg.) with one touchdown during the 2010 regular-season after finishing the preseason as the NFL’s reception leader (16-183, 11.4 avg., TD) in just three games played.
• Wears No. 87 for three reasons: He admires former Broncos wide receiver Eddie McCaffrey, who wore the number; he was the 87th overall player selected in the 2010 NFL Draft; and he was born in ‘87.
• Started three seasons at the University of Minnesota, totaling 11 career-100-yard receiving games and dropping only three passes in the 354 times he was targeted (0.8%).
• Posted a Minnesota-record 84 receptions for 1,074 yards (12.8 avg.) as a junior in 2008, earning honorable mention All-America honors and first team All-Big Ten recognition.
• Selected by the Broncos in the fifth round (87th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Denver as a draft choice 7/27/10.

Decker's Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Receptions — 8, four times, last at Baltimore, 12/16/12 (6 vs. Baltimore, 1/12/13). Receiving yards — 136 vs. Houston, 9/23/12 (84 vs. Baltimore, 1/12/13). Longest reception — 56t at Kansas City, 11/13/11 (32 vs. Baltimore, 1/12/13). Receiving touchdowns — 2, six times, last vs. Kansas City, 12/30/12 (none). Kick returns — 7, twice, last at Oakland, 12/19/10 (none). Kick return yards — 211* at Arizona, 12/12/10 (none). Longest kick return — 51 at Arizona, 12/12/10 (none). Kick return touchdowns — None (none). Punt returns — 5 vs. Oakland, 9/12/11 (none). Punt return yards — 128 vs. Oakland, 9/12/11 (none). Longest punt return — 90t vs. Oakland, 9/12/11 (none). Punt return touchdowns — 90t vs. Oakland, 9/12/11 (none).
*franchise record

2012: Decker set career-highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,064) and receiving touchdowns (13) in 16 regular-season games (15 starts) for the Broncos in 2012... Was named a fifth alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad... Tied fellow third-year wideout Demaryius Thomas with a game-high five receptions in Denver’s Week 1 win vs. Pit. (9/9)... Set a career high with 136 receiving yards on eight catches vs. Hou. (9/23)... Caught seven passes vs. Oak. (9/30), one of which went for a 17-yard touchdown, his first of the season and 10th of his career... Caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning in the third quarter at N.E. (10/7)... Registered a receiving touchdown for the third consecutive week with a 7-yard grab and totaled a game-high 98 yards on six receptions at S.D. (10/15)... Tied a career-high with a pair of receiving touchdowns vs. N.O. (10/28)... Matched career highs with eight receptions and two touchdown catches at Cin. (11/4), to mark his fifth-straight game with at least one touchdown... Caught his 100th career pass and took it 20 yards for his eighth touchdown of the season during the third quarter vs. S.D. (11/18), becoming just the third player in team history with at least eight touchdown catches in back-to-back seasons... Tied a career high with a game-best eight receptions at Oak. (12/6)... Matched his career high with eight catches, including a 51-yard touchdown pass as part of his game-high 133 receiving yards, which represented the second-highest output of his career at Bal. (12/16)... Posted his fifth career multiple-touchdown game with a pair of touchdown catches vs. Cle. (12/23)... Matched his career best with two touchdowns and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the first season of his career vs. K.C. (12/30)... Tied for a team-high six catches and led Denver with 84 yards in the Divisional Round vs. Bal. (1/12).

2011: Decker played all 16 games (13 starts) in the regular season and led the Broncos with 44 receptions for 612 yards (13.9 avg.) with eight touchdowns... Added six punt returns for 133 yards (22.2 avg.), including a 90-yard touchdown, and returned two kickoffs for 50 yards (25.0 avg.)... Totaled the second most receiving touchdowns (8) by a Bronco in his first or second season... Registered the third-longest punt return for a touchdown (90 yds.) in franchise history in the season opener vs. Oak. (9/12) despite never returning a punt at any level entering the game... Totaled five receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start vs. Cin. (9/18)... Started Denver’s AFC Wild Card Playoff Game vs. Pit. (1/8) but left the game and missed the rest of the postseason with a knee injury.

2010: Selected by the Broncos in the fifth round (87th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, Decker played 14 games (0 starts) as a rookie and totaled six receptions for 106 yards (17.7 avg.) with one touchdown on offense... Led the club with 22 kickoff returns for 556 yards, with his 25.3-yard average ranking third in the NFL among rookies... Tied for third on the team with nine special-teams stops... Led all NFL players with 16 receptions during the preseason (183 yds., 11.4 avg., TD) despite playing just three games... Recorded his first two NFL receptions vs. Stl. (11/28), including a season-long 38-yard catch in the fourth quarter... Set a franchise record with 211 yards on seven kickoff returns (30.1 avg.) at Ari. (12/12)... Caught his first career touchdown pass on a 6-yard reception from quarterback Tim Tebow in the regular-season finale vs. S.D. (1/2).

PERSONAL: Decker attended Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minn., where he played football, basketball and baseball, earning all-conference, all-area and all-section honors in all three sports... Named Team MVP twice for football, recording 2,156 receiving yards with 28 touchdowns during his prep career... Earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing at Minnesota... Eric Decker was born on March 15, 1987, in Cold Spring, Minn.