Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is still questionable for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars in London, but he seems to be doing what he can to get back into game shape. Even at the expense of what should be like a restful time.
Russell Wilson is taking his cringe tour to London.
While Denver had an eight-hour flight to London this week ahead of its game with the Jaguars, Wilson reportedly spent half of the time stretching up and down the aisle while his teammates tried to sleep. And they weren’t lunges, either. Per Zac Stevens, Wilson was doing “high knees” in the aisle.
Russell Wilson confirmed as much when speaking with the media.
I don’t really get jet lagged too often. I’ve traveled enough to get my system down. I was on the plane, the first two hours — what was t and eight hour flight here? — the first two hours I was watching the film, watching all the cutups and everything else. Then for the next four hours I was doing treatment on the plane. I was walking up and down the aisles. Everybody was knocked out, I was doing high knees and working on all my legs and everything else, making sure I’m ready to rock. So that was good. And the last two hours… I fell asleep for one hour and then watching film the rest… and I feel great.
Ian Rapoport added Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said Wilson is moving in a direction that points to him playing and he did “quite a bit” during Wednesday’s workout.
While none of that is a guarantee — or anything close to it — Wilson playing would mean he’s only missed one game with a hamstring injury that sidelined him last week against the Jets.
MORE: Will Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe start for Patriots in Week 8?
Russell Wilson’s time with Broncos
Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos thus far has been difficult, to say the least.
After being inked to a massive extension that made him the second-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL by yearly average, Wilson and the Broncos offense has sputtered. They’re dead last in the NFL in points per game at 14.3 (this is counting the nine-point performance with Brett Rypien at the helm, to be clear) and last in the league in red zone touchdown percentage.
Those struggles have cast doubt on Wilsons’ ability to lead the Broncos to where they’re hoping to be. They’re 2-5, dead last in the AFC West, and continuing to trend downwards.
In that span, Wilson has been under constant scrutiny. His deleted commercials with Subway were beyond parody (but parodied anyways), his “Let’s Ride” catchphrase has already fallen by the wayside (he didn’t say it after losing to the Chargers), and the Broncos’ dysfunction has only been amplified by their prevalence in primetime (they won’t be back until Dec. 11 against the Chiefs, which frankly could be flexed out of favor of Giants vs. Eagles or Jets vs. Bills).
For anyone else, this hallway aisle would likely be a little footnote. But or Wilson, it’s a continuation of the tryhard persona he has cultivated in Denver after the Broncos traded away a king’s ransom to the Seahawks, just to be worse than them so far this year.
MORE: Chiefs DE Frank Clark suspended two games
Will Russell Wilson play Sunday?
It’s looking like Wilson is going to play Sunday, based on his and Hackett’s comments.
On working out, Wilson said this isn’t unusual for him on a long flight.
“I do it when I need to, especially when it’s a longer flight,” he said, per The Denver Post. “The more you move, the better you feel when you get off on this side. I’ve got my secrets. Movement and tons of water always helps.”
As for how he feels, he said he’s doing well.
“I feel great,” he said. “Ready to roll. I’m super locked in and ready to hopefully get a big win in London. This would be a key game for us against a really good football team we’re playing. I think both of our records don’t necessarily represent who we are.”
Whether or not that proves to be the case, Wilson undoubtedly is hoping things turn around quickly. However, his contract is already locked in. It’s more important for the Broncos brass the Broncos are able to turn things around. After all, they’re the ones who mortgaged their future for the quarterback.
Hits: 0
