Insider: Broncos, Russell Wilson relationship 'could come off the rails'

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Insider: Broncos, QB Russell Wilson relationship 'could come off the rails'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/7/22

On "Thursday Night Football" in Denver, the Broncos fell 12-9 in overtime to the Jonathan Taylor-less Indianapolis Colts, failing to score a touchdown. On Friday, Kyle Brandt of The NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" heavily criticized QB Russell Wilson for a lame primetime performance.

"I don't know when Russell Wilson turned into Mitch Trubisky," he said, referencing Wilson's failed fourth-down pass to end the game. "I wish he would turn into Geno Smith so they could win a game. Geno makes that play 10 times out of 10."

The Seahawks traded Wilson to Denver in the offseason, replacing him with Smith as starting QB.

"This could come off the rails," Brandt added about the Broncos' season. Denver is 2-3.

Thoughts on Russell Wilson…. pic.twitter.com/IkIC4SP7rk
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) October 7, 2022

While more questionable play-calling from first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett grabbed some of the headlines as well, Wilson's numbers were underwhelming. He finished the game 21-for-39 with 274 passing yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a 54.9 quarterback rating, well below the league average, and suffered four sacks.

When the Broncos gave up quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, first- and second-rounders in each of the next two drafts and a 2022 fifth-rounder, many fans in the Mile High City were dreaming of Super Bowl aspirations.

When Wilson was signed to a five-year, $245 million contract extension less than two weeks before kickoff to the 2022 regular season, Broncos brass thought they had found their on-field leader to show why he was a nine-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl champion.

While an uneven five-game start is still too early to jump to any conclusions, it's certainly been a bumpy fall thus far for Wilson in his new home.

Denver will look to end their two-game losing streak in Week 6 on "Monday Night Football" when they face the Los Angeles Chargers at 8:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 17.

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