DENVER — Look at Russell Wilson’s durability record.
Impressive as it is overall, there have been some leaks in recent years as he ages, leading to the realization the Broncos better have their backup quarterback ready.
Jarrett Stidham was impressive in the preseason finale here at the $100 million-improved Empower Field at Mile High Saturday night. The No. 2 quarterback who got the start against the Los Angeles Rams, Stidham led the Broncos to three touchdowns and two field goals on his first five possessions, and the home team in white uniforms whipped Stan Kroenke's visitors, 41-0 before a crowd of 60,746 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Now comes the ultimate emotional swing. The Broncos in the next 72 hours will waive, release, cut or move 37 players off their roster.
“A lot of guys will make this challenging with their efforts tonight and during the week really and even last week,'' said Broncos' head coach Sean Payton.
The Broncos led 27-0 at halftime with Stidham at the helm, then bumped their lead with a short touchdown run by Tyler Badie and a short touchdown pass from Ben DiNucci to Josh Hammond in the fourth quarter.
Wilson played in all 160 possible regular-season and postseason games during the first 9 years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He missed three games in 2021, when he turned 33, because of a ruptured tendon and dislocated fracture in a finger on his passing hand.
He missed two games last year, his first with the Broncos, because of a hamstring and concussion.
The Broncos decided not to bring back their No. 2 quarterback from a year ago, Brett Rypien, and instead signed free-agent Stidham, who was coached his first four NFL seasons by Josh McDaniels in New England and Las Vegas, to a two-year, $10 million contract.
“The coach kind of speaks for itself,'' Stidham said in explaining why he signed with Denver when the Raiders made him an offer to return. "The history with New Orleans. His history with quarterbacks and winning. Ultimately, I want to win football games. That was obviously a big reason coming here. We’ve got a tremendous defense, great skill players, great offensive line. A culmination of things that made the decision but happy to be here.””
After a slow start in training camp and the preseason, Stidham has played extremely well the past two weeks.
With Wilson and the Broncos’ starters wearing sweats on the sidelines for Denver’s final preseason game against the similarly starter-less Rams, Stidham began 7 of 7 for 121 yards while pushing the Broncos to a 10-0 lead, then later threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam for a 17-0 lead with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
“The main thing is improving week to week,'' Stidham said. "That was my personal goal, keep improving. Do the offense the way it’s supposed to be done and I feel like each week it got better.’’
Air Payton. Stidham was a robust 17 of 28 for 236 yards and a touchdown in his one half of work. He flung completions of 50 yards to rookie Marvin Mims Jr., 49 yards to Brandon Johnson and 21 yards to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Stidham also had a nice escape for a 20-yard scramble.
DiNucci, the No. 3 quarterback, also played well, as he has since he signed with the Broncos out of the XFL in May. DiNucci was 11 of 15 for 117 yards and the touchdown pass to Hammond in the second half.
In all, Stidham and DiNucci combined to complete 28 of 43 passes for 353 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.
The closest to a starter who played for the Broncos was fullback Michael Burton – the only fullback on the roster – and three specialists, Brett Maher, Riley Dixon and Mitch Fraboni. Second-rounder Mims may be a starter now that Jerry Jeudy is down a few weeks with a hamstring pull.
Otherwise, the Rams’ second stringers were no match for the Broncos’ backups.
Stidham was 6 of 6 on the opening drive, with three completions going to Humphrey for 45 yards. Humphrey entered the final preseason game competing for the No. 6 receiver spot on the roster.
Stidham also completed two passes for 25 yards to Okwuegbunam who is trying to stick as the No. 4 tight end. Okwuegbunam had seven catches for 109 yards.
"In my heart, I always knew,'' Okwuegbunam said. "This is nothing new. I mean, I've always been capable of doing this. Tonight, I just got some opportunities to show it."
He seemed to be behind undrafted rookie tight end Nate Adkins throughout training camp and the preseason for the No. 4 tight end spot. Did Albert O. do enough to win a spot on the 53-man roster?
"That guy, big, strong, fast,'' Stidham said of the Broncos' fourth-year tight end. "And he was able to display his talent what he’s able to do so I was happy for him that he made a lot of plays.”
Stidham moved the offense to first and goal at the 4 on the first drive before an end around run by Mims resulted in a 3-yard gain and vicious facemask penalty by Rams’ cornerback Tre Tomlinson. So dangerous was the Tomlinson grab and yank, he was ejected from the game.
Undrafted rookie running back sensation Jaleel McLaughlin finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run and it was 7-0 Broncos before the Rams had the ball.
Scenes from the Broncos final preseason game
On the second series, Stidham opened with a deep throw to Mims, who came back for the ball and caught it while on the ground. Stidham was on the ground, too, as he took a full-body blow to the midsection after releasing the deep ball. Stidham said he had the wind knocked out of him as he got after a minute or so and continued to play.
“That’s what I’m called to do. It’s part of playing the position,'' Stidham said. "You’ve got to stay in there and take some shots it’s part of the job and I’m happy to do it.”
Mims initially got up and ran in for a touchdown although replay ruled he was down at the 25. From the 25 to the 25, the 50-yard completion set up a 46-yard field goal by Brett Maher, who appears to have won the kicker competition against the field.
It was 10-0 and the lead was about to grow after Denver defensive back Essang Bassey came up with his third interception of the preseason – one in each game. Bassey alertly read Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, left the receiver he was covering and picked off the pass intended towards the middle.
That set up a short-field touchdown drive with Stidham connecting with Albert O.
Denver’s third defensive series ended with a second interception, this one by inside linebacker Drew Sanders, who returned it 32 yards. Sanders was stripped by the quarterback Bennett at the end of his run, but hustling defensive end Elijah Garcia recovered the fumble at the Rams’ 26.
A 9-yard completion to Brandon Johnson, a 9-yard run by Tony Jones Jr. and a fourth-and-1 smash-mouth run for 3 yards by Jones set up first and goal at 1. Jones pounded the ball in from there and the Broncos were up 24-0 with 10:04 left in the first half.
All that domination. And soon, the deflation of players saying goodbye (some will stay put as part of the 16-player practice squad).
“Yeah there’s always some jitters that come with that,'' Johnson said. "There’s a select few guys who know they’re good. Everyobdy else there’s some jitters. But I put in the work that I could put in. Ultimately I’ve got my faith in God.”
Bronco Bits
Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Thomas Incoom swept around left end for his first sack of the preseason. Veteran outside linebacker Aaron Patrick also got a sack. Incoom and Patrick are competing for a possible No. 5 outside linebacker spot. …
Rypien replaced Bennett midway through the second quarter for the Rams. Rypien was 7 of 13 for 67 yards. …
McLaughlin had 48 yards rushing on 10 carries with a touchdown, plus four catches. Did he do enough to make the 53-man roster (most likely)? “I don’t know. I’m going to let that settle itself out,'' McLaughlin said. "Coach is going to pick the best 53. Hopefully I’m one of them because I love it here in Denver. But I’m going to let that play itself out. I have no regrets.” ...
The Broncos avoided their first winless preseason since their inaugural season of 1960, when they were 0-5. The Broncos finished their first preseason under Payton with a 1-2 record. Both losses were by 1 point.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports