ENGLEWOOD, Colo — When the play breaks down and Russell Wilson has to improvise, he sometimes hits his muscle memory switch from his middle-infield baseball days.
A second baseman in the Rockies’ farm system before he became an NFL quarterback way back in 2012, Wilson used a forward running, back-handed shovel pass to running back Samaje Perine for an 18-yard gain that started a double play flip to the shortstop — err, started the Broncos’ final game-winning field goal drive Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.
Earlier, he dropped his arm angle and threw sidearm beneath a blitzing defensive back and connected with wide-open running back Javonte Williams for a 3-yard touchdown.
Major league second basemen make those throws, but not many NFL quarterbacks.
Wilson isn’t throwing for mega yards this season – he is averaging a pedestrian 200.7 passing yards per game and he was below 200 each of the past 5 games -- but he is making numerous outstanding off-schedule plays in the clutch. His 18 touchdown passes are tied for second in the league, behind only Josh Allen’s 19. And Allen has thrown 7 more interceptions than Wilson.
“You always want to be within the rhythm of the play,’’ Wilson said of his improvisational tricks. “Sometimes it may not be there because they have covered it well, maybe you have to scamper outside the pocket. I think (the receivers and backs are) doing a tremendous job of finding holes and getting open.
“It’s all about effort. It’s about effort upfront. Those guys are doing a tremendous job giving me enough time to make those plays and create a little magic every once in a while. It starts with that — those guys up front putting in the effort to allow me to create some space.”
He can throw overhand, too, as a good baseball player will, as he did while in retreat from a pass rusher before delivering a perfectly thrown touchdown pass to toe-tapping, toe-dragging receiver Courtland Sutton in the 24-22 win against the heavily favored Bills.
First-year head coach Sean Payton has Wilson operating on the move much more than he did last year, when the quarterback struggled while trying to focus on staying in the pocket. That’s not where Russ is best. He is a second baseman who decided a long time ago to bring his athleticism to the quarterback position, yet his second base play has not escaped him.
“Well to his credit he’s in great shape and, man … ’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in an interview Thursday with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle. “There’s plays he’s going to make in the pocket — the third and long the other night to (Jerry) Jeudy. And yet in this game the pass rush is difficult each week and I know when you have a quarterback that can move, that can be the spaghetti sauce to a lot of things.
“The thing he does a good job with is working with these receivers and getting them in (position) when he does move. Because the play to Courtland the other night, he’s the backside over (crossing) route except Russ’ eyes immediately goes to that landmark (a foot out of bounds, middle left-side end zone). Those are things those guys talk about.
“But you’re right, you’re not going to be in a perfect pocket all the time. And certainly he’s someone that’s comfortable when it gets flush.”
Powers watch
Broncos left guard Ben Powers, who has played all 560 offensive snaps through 9 games, is dealing with a foot injury that caused him to miss practice Thursday. While the injury doesn’t seem to be a long-term situation, his status for the game Sunday night against the Vikings is in question.
“It was something from the game (against Buffalo),’’ Payton said in his post-practice press conference Thursday. “We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, and we’ll see where he is at.”
Kareem returns
For the first time in 25 days, veteran safety Kareem Jackson was back Thursday with the Broncos. Jackson was ejected from the Broncos’ game Oct. 22 against the Green Bay Packers for his blow against a defenseless receiver and then suspended for two games that sandwiched a bye week because of repeated unnecessary roughness infractions.
Jackson figures to start Sunday against the Vikings alongside Justin Simmons, as the safety duo has for the past five seasons.
“He’s in good shape. It’s good to have him back,’’ Payton said. “I told him that we’re on a little bit of a roll and don’t mess anything up now (laughing). He’s doing well.”
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