For plenty of folks, the April day in 2010 when the Broncos used the 25th pick in the NFL draft to select Tim Tebow was a watershed moment, the first page of what will become Tebow’s story as a professional quarterback.

But Tebow wasn’t the first player the Broncos drafted that day.

Three picks before taking Tebow, the Broncos selected a player they had placed higher on their draft board than the Heisman Trophy winner from Florida. Demaryius Thomas, a wide receiver from Georgia Tech, was drafted No. 22 overall.

“I still want to be that guy,” Thomas said Monday. “I think I’m ready to be that guy. I’ve been saying this, but this is the healthiest I’ve been, right now, since I’ve been in the league.”

Thomas’ career numbers with the Broncos — 10 games, two starts, 22 catches — pale in comparison with the time he has spent recovering from foot, ankle, Achilles tendon and hand injuries along with a concussion.

The Broncos traded Brandon Lloyd, a wide receiver coming off a Pro Bowl season, to the Rams on Monday in part because they believe the 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thomas is ready to make an impact. This despite Thomas appearing in few practices this season and no games because of his Achilles tendon and hand injuries.

No one has been more frustrated by all those trips to doctor offices and to the Broncos’ training room than Thomas, who is looking forward — again — to an opportunity to live up to his promise.

“I’ve been stressing, really, feeling that frustration, that I could have been cut,” Thomas said. “I was worried about that, actually. I don’t want to be that guy they say that’s injury prone. I’ve already had three injuries since I’ve been in the league that set me back.

“I don’t want to get here and be that bust. I told my mother this and I told my family this. I told them I was going to be the guy who had success. I just want to stick to what I say.”

This is the second time this season that Thomas, 23, has been poised to play. He had a quick return from Achilles tendon surgery after suffering the injury during an offseason workout in Atlanta. But then he fractured a finger during a midweek practice. He still has a plate and three screws in his left hand to repair the break so he can play.

Thomas didn’t have much practice time before the Broncos’ bye week. But they saw enough from Thomas to trade Lloyd to the Rams and still call wide receiver a position of strength entering Sunday’s game against the Dolphins in Miami.

“He has size, speed, strength, a lot of the things you look for,” Broncos coach John Fox said of Thomas. “That’s probably why he was selected as high as he was, and we’re looking forward to getting him back.”

Thomas’ biggest challenge — route running — hasn’t changed since his rookie year. After playing in an option offense at Georgia Tech, he was considered to be a two-route receiver by NFL scouts entering the 2010 draft.

Having missed so much practice time, including most of two training camps, Thomas hasn’t been able to expand that portfolio much.

“He’s just got to get back in football shape,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “It’s just staying healthy, getting in shape. But he’s going to be a tough matchup with that size if he can stay on the field.”

Said Thomas: “I’m just so excited, just ready to get back on that field. There were some moments when I was really frustrated with everything. But I just kept my eye on the prize and kept going. I’m not going to be timid or scared. I’m going to go out there and help as much as I can.”

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com