The signs were there early in training camp this summer. Cody Latimer, the Broncos’ second-round pick in the 2014 draft, was beginning to look like the wide receiver many hoped he would blossom into during his first two years in the NFL. He made over-the-shoulder catches. He ran crisp routes. He sped past and around defenders. He appeared comfortable in the system and confident in his ability to run it.

Sometime in the past six months, after the Broncos capped a trying season offensively with a victory in Super Bowl 50, a switch flipped in Latimer.

“Just very confident. Legs feel good,” he said. “Been doing a good job of taking care of my body this offseason, so I feel good out there.”

He credits rest during the offseason. He credits his conditioning and weight loss. He credits the year of experience being able to learn coach Gary Kubiak’s playbook.

“I was very hesitant,” he said of his first two NFL seasons. “Was worried about what everybody thought — was Peyton (Manning) going to be mad, was Coach going to be mad. I was very nervous out there. Going out here now, especially in my third year, I’m confident in myself. I know what I can do. I just go out there and make plays.”

The expectations came in a package deal when the Broncos drafted the former Indiana star 56th overall two years ago. Playing alongside a future Hall of Fame quarterback and noted perfectionist raised the stakes. The pressure played mind games with Latimer.

“Coming out, second-round pick, I’m like, ‘I can’t mess up, I don’t want to mess up.’ Things like that. ‘I don’t want to mess up for this Hall of Famer.’ It was pressure for me. It was a more mental thing, and it messed with me,” Latimer said.

Latimer played nearly 46 percent of Denver’s special-teams snaps last season but only about 19 percent of its offensive plays, the fewest of any wide receiver still on the roster. Over the last two seasons, he had a total of only eight catches for 82 yards and one touchdown. In the Broncos’ 22-0 preseason victory at Chicago last week, he caught a team-high seven passes for 82 yards.

Latimer focused more on cardiovascular training during the offseason and less on making mistakes.

“Cody is in great condition,” Kubiak said. “He can run all day, so you see him show up. The longer practices go, he tends to keep making plays. It’s important to him. You can see it. It’s a big year for him. We all know that. I think he’s pushing really hard and doing a good job.”

And at a good time.

The Broncos learned Friday that Bennie Fowler, who has been contending with Latimer for the No. 3 receiver job, will miss at least a few weeks because of a fractured elbow. Fowler, like Latimer, had been impressive in camp and in the first preseason game, and although Fowler’s place on the team probably is secure, Latimer’s window of opportunity opened wider.

And this time, Latimer plans to take advantage.

“I pride myself in knowing what I can do,” he said. “I know I have to go out there and do something. I’m more focused this year than ever.”

Closer look at Latimer

Wide receiver Cody Latimer struggled in his first two seasons with the Broncos but played well in their preseason opener last week at Chicago:

2014: Eight games, two catches, 23 yards

2015: 14 games (one start), six catches, 59 yards, one TD

2016 preseason: One game, seven catches, 82 yards