Russ is ready to rock ‘n roll and ride in return. Only trouble is Russell Wilson will not start Sunday.
During the past two seasons in Denver Wilson’s running was ridiculed, his sacks disparaged and his passing mourned.
Now he’s back ... to the bench.
PreposteRuss is beginning his short stint with the Steelers the same as his ending of an error with the Broncos – on the sideline as a backup quarterback. This time he is on the other team. In the final two games of 2023 Wilson didn’t play because the Broncos’ coach had enough of him. In the opening two games of 2024 he will not start, or probably play, because of a calf injury.
The Broncos’ believers @Mile High and the Steelers’ supporters at the Rusty Bucket Bar & Grill on south Sheridan will have mixed moods over Wilson’s absence and presence. Denverites wanted to jeer Wilson throughout and cheer the Broncos to victory. Pittsburghers (or Yinzers) and their pierogies, who have moved to Colorado, wanted Wilson to win and the Steelers to possess a 2-0 record.
No highlights honoring Wilson will be shown on the stadium’s massive scoreboard because Russ didn’t have many or any in the 19 of 30 games he lost with the Broncos. His “Let’s Ride’’ turned into “Let’s Hide’’ and seek another QB.
From the moment of Sean Payton’s arrival he didn’t care for Wilson’s persona or play. The coach’s first decisions were to ban his entourage and take away his office, and the last moves were to demote him, then release him despite the $85 million in despicable dead salary cap money.
Split happens.
This was supposed to be Wilson vs. Payton. It did not even become Russell Wilson vs. Zack Wilson. One will be second string, the other third string. One Wilson won’t participate unless an injury occurs. The other Wilson won’t see action unless two injuries occur.
The duel is Bo Nix vs. Justin Fields.
Strangely enough, Fields’ personal best performance was against the Broncos last Oct. 1 when, as Bears quarterback, he threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns (with an interception). But Chicago fell to the Broncos 31-28 as Russell completed 21 of 28 for 223 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
Russell signed March 11 with the Steelers for chump change ($1 million) and was anointed the new starter. Four days later Pittsburg acquired Fields for a lowly ’25 sixth-round pick. Wilson injured his calf (he declines to acknowledge which one) early in training camp, and Fields has taken over.
But will he be Justin Fields Forever? Wilson is not scheduled to return until at least the fourth game, but Fields could be just in time if he wins Sunday in Denver and next week at home against the Chargers. Wilson would have lost his starting job again. Jarrett Stidham was the Broncos’ QB for the last two games of ’23. But he, too, no longer is a starter – and really should be the Broncos’ third man out. Stidham said after Nix was the chosen one as starter that he definitely is a starter. He might be in the UFL. The other Wilson, Zack, should be No. 2 in Denver.
Russ acted Thursday as if he were preparing to be the Sunday starter even though he was on the questionable list. “So I’m just trying to get ready to go and rock and roll, and obviously I think it’s a big game for us — because it’s the next one’’, he told the media in response to being asked about the quirky circumstances of returning to Denver — so quickly as he had to go back to Seattle in the first game after his trade to the Broncos.
Meanwhile, Payton’s pitiful, piteous play-calling during the road opener at Seattle didn’t prove he is a genuine genius, general moreso than the vanilla fudge offense he produced with Wilson and Stidham a year ago. Actually, the Broncos’ defense carried the team in a stretch of six victories in seven games.
The coach must produce a solid running game and let Nix loose to go Bo and not lose – or Russell Wilson, without playing a down, wins Sunday.
Broncos 24, Steelers 11.
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