Russ-O-Meter: Broncos offense bruised, what’s Wilson to do?
Oct 4, 2022, 6:45 AM
There was some good, and there was some bad, but so is the case when your team is .500. Denver’s offense looked dynamic at times in the first half but struggled to move the ball in the second after Javonte Williams went down. So, what’s more, indicative of the Russell Wilson-led Broncos in a post-Williams world?
In the weekly “Russ-O-Meter,” we’ll grade and cover what’s gone on in the wide world of Wilson this week. The meter represents how psyched Broncos Country is with Russell.
Meter: 5 (->0)
Stat line: 17-for-25 passing, 237 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 4 carries, 29 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 sacks for 23 yards, 50.7 QBR, 124.9 Passer Rating
The Broncos got roughed up pretty good in their 32-23 loss to Las Vegas, with possession time nearly 10 minutes less than the Raiders and running almost 30 fewer plays. Considering how little Russ had to work and the mid-game loss of Williams, Wilson actually played pretty well. He even nearly led another fourth comeback, which he’s done in each of the Broncos’ two wins. A quirky little stat from the game is that Wilson actually had more receiving yards than Williams, Melvin Gordon and Albert Okwuegbunam combined with the same number of catches—one.
The defense didn’t get a key stop and struggled to get off the field all game, as the Raiders went 7-for-14 on third down. The lack of a stop late in the game neutered Wilson’s chance at a last gasp. In the same sense, though, five of Denver’s six second-half drives went for less than a dozen yards.
After the game, Wilson swapped jerseys with Raiders QB Derek Carr, which upset many.
Wilson didn’t play poorly by any means but certainly didn’t pull a miracle that hall of fame signal callers sometimes do. We probably haven’t seen the best of Wilson through four games in orange, but now, with depleted weapons, things are starting to get very sketchy for Russ.
On Monday’s injury report, Wilson was listed as limited; he was seen on the sideline wearing a wrap around his throwing shoulder on Sunday. He’s expected to play but Wilson being banged up along with all the other skill guys is not a good sign.
Off the field, Wilson’s months-old TikTok promotion for his Dangerwich Subway sandwich went viral once more for just how cringe it was.
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