A week after the 2015 draft, Jeff Heuerman lined up on a kick coverage drill in the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. He raced down the field and chased his NFL dream straight into a dark hole.

“I knew right away when it happened that it wasn’t good,” Heuerman said last week. “On the ride back to the training room, I looked at Greek (trainer Steve Antonopulos) and said, ‘just be honest with me. Shoot me straight.’ He said, ‘I am 95 percent sure it’s your (left) ACL.'”

In a blink, Heuerman’s promising rookie season ended before it began. The Broncos carved out big plans for the third-round pick, and instead he became “a rehab guy,”a lonely, mental and physical obstacle course of emotions. He trained for five hours a day in the summer, many times with former teammate Ryan Clady, and returned to his condo and lost himself in episodes of “Entourage” and “Game of Thrones.”

The low point came in the days leading up to Super Bowl 50. Heuerman’s repaired left knee was strong. It was welcomed, but sobering because the former Ohio State standout could not contribute from the injured reserve list.

A conversation with Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware changed his outlook, and has carried him with momentum into the start of voluntary offseason workouts at Dove Valley.

“At the Super Bowl, it kind of hit me hard. I was down. And DeMarcus lifted me up. He said, ‘You need to look at this week like you are the starting tight end because you may never get back,'” Heuerman recalled. “It was obviously his first time in the game, and he wasn’t taking anything for granted. From that moment, I was able to embrace the experience and enjoy it.”

Heuerman lived an “Almost Famous” existence last season, doing everything but playing. Determined not to waste the season, he attended every meeting, took weekly playbook tests, added lean muscle without losing any of his sturdy 252 pounds and traveled on road trips to experience the venues. He watched several games from the sidelines. It was life with his nose pushed into the glass of a people aquarium. He is ready — more than ready — to make his splash.

“I wanted to be as involved as I could be. The NFL rules prevented me from me being out there during practice, but I did everything else. I can’t wait to contribute and help this team,” Heuerman said. “There’s only so much you can learn from the meetings. You have to experience it on the field.”

The Broncos believe Heuerman will settle in quickly. If he had been healthy, it’s fair to wonder if the Broncos would have traded for tight end Vernon Davis.

“We expect (Heuerman) to step in and be a force,” general manager John Elway said.

Heuerman boasts a unique skill set as a capable blocker with soft hands. He projects as a potential replacement for veteran Owen Daniels, who was released, but whose return hasn’t been ruled out. As it stands, Heuerman would pair with Virgil Green, a solid blocker who was under utilized in the passing game last season.

“We’re counting on (Heuerman) big time,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “We feel like Jeff can be a total tight end. He’s not just a receiver. We think he has the ability to do both (catch and block). He’s a very confident young man and he comes from a winning program. It’s a big offseason for him and he’s worked really hard.”

Rolling up his sleeves has never scared Heuerman. He grew up playing competitive hockey in Florida, of all places. He left the game in his rearview mirror years ago, but is rooting for former Detroit Compuware Ambassadors roommate Austin Watson to win a Stanley Cup with the Nashville Predators.

The toughness and discipline learned on the ice helped Heuerman navigate his recovery. He knows the experience helped him, but the transformation from patient to player is long overdue.

“You are going to face adversity in life and face adversity in sports. It was just another hurdle, another mountain to climb. You hear these horror stories about guys getting hurt as rookies, and not being the same. But I am healthy,” Heuerman said. “I got to learn from the older guys. There’s a lot I didn’t know. You think you know, but you don’t. I tried to take in everything I could. But it’s time to start taking snaps again.”

Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or @troyrenck

Road to recovery

The Broncos predicted a big role for tight end Jeff Heuerman last season before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during rookie mini-camp. He is healthy and ready to contribute. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck analyzes Heuerman:

— Knee healed during the playoffs. Benefited from working with Peyton Manning. “You run routes and he’s telling you that you will catch the ball at 11 ½ yards. You don’t hear that a lot from quarterbacks, down to the half yard. And he hit me at exactly 11 ½ yards.”

— Leaned on former teammate Ryan Clady during his recovery as both rehabbed ACL injuries.

— Used down time when unable to walk by catching up on episodes of “Entourage” and “Game of Thrones.”