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The Denver Broncos are currently dealing with a severe case of buyer’s remorse. Denver spent a whole bunch of draft capital acquiring star quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks. They then locked down the Super Bowl-winning QB long-term with a ginormous five-year extension worth nearly $250 million.
On its face, the deal looked like a reasonable commitment from a team that hasn’t had a capable quarterback in a number of years.
The only problem? Wilson has been an absolute disaster in his first five games in Denver.
Wilson is completing a career-low 59.4 percent of his passes. He’s thrown for just 250.8 yards per game and has just four touchdowns against three interceptions. His play is a big reason the Broncos are 2-3 and in last place in the AFC West following an absolute debacle against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football.
Now it appears he’s got at least somewhat of an excuse.
Russell Wilson Has Played Last Two Broncos Game With A Torn Lat
Wilson deserves plenty of criticism for his poor play. Frankly, he’s been downright awful the entire season. But a bombshell report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter reveals Wilson hasn’t been anywhere near 100 percent the last two weeks.
Broncos’ QB Russell Wilson played Thursday night against the Colts, and three quarters of the previous game against the Raiders, while battling a partially torn lat near his right shoulder, according to sources.https://t.co/HBBoet8LX5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2022
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson played Thursday night against the Colts, and three quarters of the previous game against the Raiders, while battling a partially torn lat near his right shoulder, according to sources.
Wilson suffered the injury in the beginning of the second quarter of the loss to Las Vegas during a game in which he threw two touchdowns and ran for another.
Schefter says that Broncos doctors diagnosed the issue in the past week and that Wilson did not practice on the Wednesday prior to the loss to the Colts.
Some Broncos fans are giving Wilson the benefit of the doubt.
https://twitter.com/SteventheThorn/status/1578881904731770881?s=20&t=IfREJYyrZOX_B1iVZ3bC_Q
Right shoulder? Might partially explain some of his super weird misses in downfield middle field closed shots, the stuff he hits in his sleep at his best https://t.co/xdZnDiyFcy
— Under Zone X (Frisco)/Phoenix Check/Stick Slasher2 (@mattyfbrown) October 8, 2022
But many more were skeptical.
Sure https://t.co/EeFJHGLk9j pic.twitter.com/zQGqvnzAQO
— Neil (@xivhbv) October 8, 2022
Lmao like clockwork. Damage control 101 from Wilson’s camp.
He looked like doodoo in the games before this one too! https://t.co/fcUPUTiGIP
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) October 8, 2022
Either way, it’s not what the Broncos want to see one year into a long-term investment.