Kenny McKinley found dead

Kenny McKinley is tackled during a game vesus the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Fox31’s Josina Anderson has reported the Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead, from an apparent suicide. His body was found in Arapahoe County, there is no immediate information available.

McKinley was one of the Broncos top prospects at wide receiver when he was drafted in 2009, but struggled to make the field as a pure receiver contributing mostly to special teams.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released this statement, “Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos’ family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny’s family and friends.”

“Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room. This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” Added head coach Josh McDaniels.

McKinley was placed on injured reserve during the 2009 season after suffering a knee injury; in 2010 he was placed on injured reserve this time during training camp after again suffering a knee injury.

McKinley was 23-years old, the third Broncos player to die in the last four years.

McKinley’s father told the players agent Andrew Bondarowicz that Kenny was in Atlanta yesterday and arrived in Denver late last night with his young son. No word on whether the child was with him at the time of his death.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the McKinley family, his son, to his teammates and his friends.