DENVER — Operation Throw the Ball!
And we’re not just talking about dishing screens, decent as the Broncos are in that department.
Russell Wilson has two superior characteristics as a quarterback. One, his ability to make plays off script. And two, even when he wasn’t playing so well for the Broncos, his large hands and strong baseball arm has made him one of the best deep-ball throwers in the NFL.
It’s just that Wilson hasn’t been taking many shots downfield the past two games.
“We’re looking for them throughout the game,’’ Wilson said with a sly grin. “We’re looking for them. And we’re definitely not shot shy. When it’s not there, just checking it down or hitting the midrange guy, whatever it may be.”
Neither the shot nor midrange passes have been there the past two weeks as Wilson threw for less than 200 yards in a loss against the Jets and less than 100 in a loss against the Chiefs.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the passing inefficiency in recent weeks wasn’t all on the quarterback.
“We’ll get him back,’’ Payton said of Wilson. “I thought there were certain elements to the plan I didn’t like. We can correct that. That being said—and I said it after the game. I was pleased with how we ran the ball, and yet, we didn’t throw it nearly well enough. That wasn’t just on him. It starts with me relative to finding those throws for him—drive starters, for instance, and 1st-and-10 throws that are higher completion percentage throws.’’
Josey speaks to trade talk
For all the attention on the Broncos trading away one of their two receivers, Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton, before the Oct. 31 deadline, a source told 9NEWS another player who has drawn interest is inside linebacker Josey Jewell.
The Broncos’ fourth-round pick from the 2018 draft is vulnerable to trade speculation for a few reasons. One, he’s a good player, recording 128 tackles in just 13 games last year. You’ve got to be a good player for another team to want you.
Two, he is in the final year of a two-year contract that is paying him $5 million this year. This makes him an ideal rent-a-player for a playoff contender that needs inside linebacker help.
And three, Jewell has a talented rookie behind him in third-round rookie Drew Sanders. Until this point, Sanders hasn’t played much. Moving Jewell would give Sanders more reps. The transition may already be in the works as Singleton is now the everydown linebacker while Jewell sat out 17 snaps last week.
Jewell is a family man with a wife and two young children, so does hearing his name as a possible trade candidate make him a tad nervous?
“Here and there,’’ Jewell said in an interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle. “These last couple days we’ve seen some of the stuff, but all I can do is keep playing the way I’m playing. Give everything I’ve got and that’s what I’m going to do. I hope I stay here, but if something happens, it happens and I’ve got to roll with it.”
Not over yet
With a 1-5 record, Payton is off to the worst six-game start in his 16-season NFL coaching career. He’s started 0-4 before, and 1-4 and 0-3, but his Saints always had their second win no later than their sixth game. His teams have never finished worse than 7-9, so he knows how to climb out of an early hole.
“There’s a fine line here between a groove and a rut,’’ Payton said. “You take a look, and I’ll give you an example—Detroit. A year ago, I watched it as a media member, covering a handful of tough losses. They were 1-6. I know [head coach Dan] Campbell well, and you keep fighting. There’s a grit element involved. Some mental toughness that’s involved.
“Pretty soon, here they are at the end of the season. They were eliminated before [playing their final game], but they were in contention. Here they are now as one of those teams. We’re kind of in that position. We’re bowing up, and we have to.”
Humphrey promoted and Browning getting close
The Broncos promoted receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from their practice squad Wednesday to their 53-man roster. The team had a roster vacancy since releasing outside linebacker Frank Clark last week. One other roster transaction to watch: tight end Greg Dulcich going back on injured reserve with his troublesome hamstring, which would clear a spot for outside linebacker Baron Browning, if he’s ready to be activated from the physically unable to perform list with his offseason knee injury.
“If we need to, we will,’’ Payton said about moving Dulcich to IR. “I’m sure he’s frustrated, just like we are for him. We’ll see, though. We haven’t done that yet.”
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