AP

When the Broncos traded for tight end Vernon Davis, many envisioned that he’d become an explosive, dynamic addition to the Denver offense. Instead, he has become essentially a blocking tight end.

During Monday’s Opening Night festivities, Davis eventually was asked about whether the adjustment to his role has been difficult.

“You know, it’s been tough but I know who I am and I know what I stand for,” Davis said, via quotes distributed by the Broncos. “I know what I can bring to the team. I don’t let things like that get me down. I just continue to do everything that I’ve been doing. Whether it’s getting out there early, catching extra passes, whatever it may be, running extra sprints. I continue to do all those things. Like I tell everyone, when you have adversity or obstacles you are facing for the moment because they only last for a moment, it always gets good. This is the time when you start to do more, you do extra. You jump an extra mile. You go all the way and you don’t give up, you don’t look back. You just keep on getting better.”

Davis hasn’t caught a pass since December 20. So does he envision having a big game against the Panthers?

“I always see myself having big games, whatever the game may be, whether it’s playoffs or the Super Bowl,” Davis said. “Like I said, I always have to be prepared. I’m always in the moment and I try to stay optimistic.”

It’s still unclear why his role has diminished so sharply. Most assume dropped passes caused the coaching staff to lose confidence in him. The topic didn’t come up with any members of the coaching staff on Monday night, based on the quotes distributed by the team. The only other member of the organization who discussed Vernon Davis was tight end Owen Daniels, who was asked if he feared his role would diminish once Davis arrived — and if that move gave Daniels motivation to become even more productive.

“Vernon was a great addition,” Daniels said. “I think we wanted to do more two-three-type tight end set stuff and it was really just me and [Virgil Green] at the time. With [Vernon’s] athleticism and his experience in the league I think will help us a ton in being able to do that and be more flexible, those type of things. I don’t know, I think maybe just the timing of it, I got more chances to make some plays on the field. He definitely contributed to that.”

Davis becomes a free agent in March, so Super Bowl 50 provides a perfect chance for him to make an effective closing argument for getting paid big money on the open market. But even a huge performance won’t erase all the questions about why he had become invisible during his time in Denver.