The Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett ruled out star quarterback Russell Wilson on Saturday for the team’s game against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Wilson wanted to start against the Jets, but Hackett wants him to heal a lingering injury, according to a tweet from ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
While Russell Wilson wanted to play despite a hamstring injury and did everything he could to play, the Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett will hold back the 9-time Pro Bowl QB vs. the Jets to allow him to heal and prevent a lingering injury, per sources.
Brett Rypien gets the start. pic.twitter.com/UR11TisM8S
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2022
Wilson went down with a hamstring injury late in the Broncos game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday. He then underwent an MRI on Tuesday and was limited in practice this week. (RELATED: Russell Wilson’s Old Teammate Recognized His Signals As He Lost Game To Former Team)
Our @TomPelissero just reported on NFL Now @nflnetwork that Russell Wilson is getting an MRI on his hamstring today. Could be a “fairly significant” injury.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 18, 2022
Wilson’s old teammate Michael Robinson believes trouble is brewing in the Broncos locker room with Wilson’s on-field performances. Robinson thinks Wilson is “robotic” and needs to correct teammates on the field.
“If you’re a teammate in that locker room, you’re like, be human! Please! Call somebody out! Be upset about something! Don’t just act like this is business as usual,” Robinson said, according to the New York Post.
“Because at the end of the day, I think it’s on the horizon for this team – I hope it’s not – but I think it’s on the horizon: Mutiny is afoot,” he added. “The guys in the locker room are gonna turn around and say, ‘Russell got his money. New head coach, he got his money, he’s all good. But what about us? What about the guys in the locker room?'”
Woo boy, @RealMikeRob brought the heat. pic.twitter.com/37mfpVYsMD
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) October 18, 2022
While Wilson isn’t playing this weekend, he has a lot of work to do in week eight against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Through six games, the Broncos are dead last in the league for total points scored per game, according to ESPN. The team has also lost fan support, with many in the crowd leaving before the end of the game on Oct. 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Not only does Wilson need to up his own passing game, but he also needs to prove he’s worth his $296 million contract by lighting a fire under the team’s offense. The Broncos simply can’t get ahead when they consistently trail behind every team for points scored.
If Wilson tanks the rest of the season, it’s not all bad news for him. His new five-year contract guarantees him at least $165 million.
