Broncos QB Russell Wilson sends clear message during offseason training
Since his previous season was an epic failure, Broncos QB Russell Wilson might need to climb out of the dog house by having sharper focus this offseason.
It appears Wilson understands he must take this offseason more seriously. According to longtime Denver sports reporter Mike Klis, the 34-year-old QB was among the first players to arrive when the Broncos started their training program on Tuesday.
He's probably trying to impress new Denver HC Sean Payton, too. The Super Bowl champion is maniacal about winning and won't tolerate anything distracting from his pursuit.
Therefore, the pressure has escalated for the nine-time Pro Bowl QB after the worst season of his career. In 15 starts in 2022, Wilson recorded career lows in passing TDs (16), passer rating (84.4) and completion percentage (60.5).
Also, Denver went 5-12 and missed the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, which fueled the narrative that Wilson is washed and no longer salvageable.
"I'm skeptical even Payton can get Wilson to be better than average at this point," wrote NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal. "Denver should start planning for life with a different starting QB."
Per NBC Sports' Peter King, Payton is on a five-year contract and isn't putting all hope on Wilson, implying he's thinking about potential replacements. The HC recently said that 26-year-old backup QB Jarrett Stidham "can become a starter in our league."
To save his career, Wilson must recapture the form that made him a star. The comeback starts with a distraction-free regimen, showing Payton his sole goal is winning.
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