DENVER — Josey Jewell has identified a key factor to beating the Green Bay Packers today.
“We’ve got to get some turnovers this week, that’s a big one for us,’’ Jewell, a Denver Broncos’ starting inside linebacker, told 9NEWS in an interview for the Broncos Huddle. “Whether it’s stripping it, punching the ball or interceptions we’ve got to set the offense up with good field position,”
Yes, Packers’ all-purpose running back Aaron Jones, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, is back from his hamstring injury this week. But Jones was a fumbler last year, coughing it up five times and losing three. Green Bay’s new starting quarterback Jordan Love has thrown 6 interceptions and lost two fumbles in just five games.
So forcing, say, two Packers turnovers, will be key to the Broncos picking up only their second win of the season today – with the 5-1 Kansas City Chiefs the opponent next Sunday.
“It starts this week,’’ Jewell said. “Gotta get a win. We’ve got to play the defense the way we played last week (against the Chiefs), even better. And we’ve got to bring all three phases into this game, special teams, offense, defense so we finally put that one game together that we haven’t put together this season.
“There’s a lot of good players over there. I don’t go by names anymore, we usually go by numbers so 33 (Aaron Jones and 28 (AJ Dillon). So that’s No. 1. We’ve got make them put the ball in Love’s hand and try to make them throw it out of there. So got to stop the run. They’ve got a bunch of good guys up front and two good backs.”
Because he’s a proven starter in the final year of a two-year, $11 million contract, and because Alex Singleton is now wearing the green dot as the Broncos’ every down inside linebacker and play caller, and because highly touted third-round rookie Drew Sanders is behind him, there is a possibility Jewell’s time with the Broncos is short. The NFL trading deadline is 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, while the Broncos break for the bye week.
Bradley Chubb during the bye week last year. Von Miller was dealt at the 2021 trading deadline. Emmanuel Sanders was dealt near the deadline in 2019. These were top Broncos players in a down year. The Broncos are down again this year at 1-5 and Jewell is one of their best players.
Jewell was asked if he was a tad nervous once he learned of the possibility he may be involved in a trade.
“Here and there,’’ Jewell said. “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.”
A professional answer which is why teams have expressed an interest in Jewell. Further proof: Last Friday, the day after the Broncos lost 19-8 at Kansas City, Jewell on his off day spent the night at teammate Justin Simmons’ charity event. Jewell, a fourth-round pick in 2018, said Simmons, a third-round draft pick in 2016, has inspired him to help others less fortunate.
“Without a doubt, Justin Simmons,’’ Jewell said. “He gives back an enormous amount every single year. Not just money, but his time. You see the sign-up sheet the last couple years, you sign up for whatever you want and almost every single week he was signed up for something. There’s plenty of other guys who do a lot of good stuff like that but he’s definitely one of them. He just keeps on giving.
“It’s wild. Very inspiring to see a guy who has a family, has other stuff to do, giving back the way he does.”
Jewell also learned about giving time back during his college days at the University of Iowa, whose football team has a unique bond with the patients at the University of Iowa Stead Children’s Hospital that overlooks the Hawkeyes’ Kinnick Stadium.
“Coach (Kirk) Ferentz did a great job with that, having us go there,’’ Jewell said. “Maybe the first time he just kind of introduced us to it. And then if you want to go back you can go back. And of course a bunch of us guys developed a cool relationship with these young kids, less fortunate, got some crappy things going on in life and we’ve got a really good relationship with those people.
“That was something I was very fond of and happy that we have at the university and I think those guys have taken a good amount of work and a good amount of time to be over there. But it makes you feel grateful for where you’re at and how healthy you are and how well things are going on in your life even if you think they’re going the wrong way.”
A mature perspective from a linebacker who has 378 tackles, 6.0 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries in his six seasons for a Broncos team that’s had more difficult game days than good during that period.
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