Could Ja’Wuan James be on the brink of a Garett Bolles-like turnaround?

“I’ve talked to him now and then, but at the same time, he knows what he has to do to get back into the room. He knows what he has to do to earn our trust back.”

That is what Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles said during a January press conference last year when asked if he had communicated with fellow offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James.

“We’re going to open up our arms, and love him and take care of him,” Bolles continued. “But at the same time, he has a lot of work to do to get back to where he needs to be and I know he’ll do that.”

Bolles’ not-so-subtle comments about James were unprompted, and they shed light on how the locker room felt about the 2014 first-round pick, who signed a four-year, $51-million deal with the Broncos in free agency two years ago.

The deal included $32 million in guarantees and made James the highest-paid right tackle in the league at the time.

Bolles was not the only person at UCHealth Training Center to hint at possible tension between James and the rest of the team. Vic Fangio echoed the comments made by his left tackle that very same week.

“Any time you’ve been out for a year, you’ve got to get yourself back into the mix,” Fangio said. “And earn the respect and trust of everybody moving forward.”

Respect and trust are the two fundamental principles that no healthy relationship can survive without. Even to people outside of the locker room, those words cut like a knife.

That being said, the comments made by teammate and coach, while somewhat surprising given the situation, were by no means unfounded.

James played just 63 offensive snaps for the Broncos (six percent) during the 2019 season while dealing with MCL and meniscus injuries that kept him out of all but three games. It was certainly not the start Broncos Country had hoped for with their new right tackle, a position that has been a revolving door for the team since Orlando Franklin occupied the spot from 2011 through the 2013 season.

On August 3, 2020, James, who was already expected to miss OTAs and potentially training camp, opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. He was one of 67 NFL players who opted out of the 2020 season, joining fellow Bronco Kyle Peko, who made the decision a month earlier.

Yesterday, Fangio and new general manager George Paton spoke to the media. Their tone regarding James was remarkably different.

“He definitely is planning on coming back and being a part of the team moving forward,” Fangio said. “He’s down south right now training. We’re counting and anticipating on him being a part of our team next year.”

Paton also made a point to emphasize James’ desire to rejoin the team this spring.

“He’s ready to go,” Paton said. “He said he missed football and he’s looking forward to getting here, working and being with his teammates. I’m looking forward to meeting him and seeing him play next year.”

The icy tone and palpable tension that set off alarms last year was replaced with optimism that bordered on genuine excitement this time around.

Was it simply “coach speak?” Perhaps. Or maybe it was an early indication of what is in store for James and the Broncos this season.

It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a Broncos offensive lineman changed the narrative written for him in a short period of time.

Bolles, who was drafted 20th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, endured arguably the worst three-year stretch for a Broncos starting player in recent memory. He led all offensive linemen in holding penalties for three consecutive seasons, was booed relentlessly during home games and had his fifth-year option declined last offseason.

Bolles appeared to be on the brink of a career crisis at that point because, historically speaking, players who had their fifth-year options declined had very little chance of achieving success with the team they were drafted by.

His fortune changed dramatically, after it was revealed that on-field officials would be making a conscious effort to reduce the number of holding penalties being called during the 2020 season.

This curious decision, coupled with the teachings of renowned offensive line coach Mike Munchak, breathed new life into Bolles’ career and he became (at the time) just the sixth player in history to re-sign with his team after having his option declined.

Heading into the 2021 season, James finds himself at a very similar crossroads.

The health issues that were discussed at length during his time in Miami have followed James to Denver. And his effort level and passion for the game have been called into question by many within the fan base.

While the comments made by his head coach and general manager are a welcome change and promising start, what becomes of James’ future with the Broncos still remains to be seen. Things may not look great for James heading into his third season with the team, but Bolles’ transformation inspires hope that all is not yet lost.

Words from Derek Wolfe, who spoke with “Stokley and Zach” last January, just months before signing with the Baltimore Ravens, provide a nice reminder of what the 28-year-old lineman could still have to offer.

“When Ja’Wuan James is healthy, Ja’Wuan James is a problem. He’s not an easy guy to play against. I practiced all training camp against him and he’s a good offensive lineman. He’s a great offensive lineman,” Wolfe said, “Everybody is hating on him right now about not playing with an injury. I think he’ll turn their opinion(s) around.”

Could James flip the script in the same improbable fashion his teammate did just a season ago?

Crazier things have certainly happened.