The Denver Broncos’ injured quarterback Russell Wilson has been ruled out of the team’s Week 7 game against the New York Jets, NFL Network’s James Palmer reported on Saturday.
The 33-year-old player got his hamstring injury when the Broncos lost Monday night game to the Los Angeles Chargers, which required him to undergo an MRI test on Tuesday. As a result, he was forced to join a limited practice throughout the week and received very few reps, according to sources.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (hamstring) ruled OUT vs Jets. QB Brett Rypien to start on Sunday. (via @JamesPalmerTV) pic.twitter.com/PLQyEjnshM
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2022
With Wilson’s condition, Denver’s head coach Nathaniel Hackett said protecting him was the “most important thing.”
“We just want to be sure that he can protect himself,” Hackett commented. “I think that is the most important thing.”
Wilson was previously listed as questionable on Friday. In an interview, Hackett spoke of Wilson’s recovery timeline.
“He is day-to-day up to this point,” Hackett said. “So, it will probably be (a) game-time (decision).”
#BroncosCountry LIVE: Coach Hackett meets the media after Friday’s practice https://t.co/7EVKS4ngJH
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 21, 2022
Michael Baca of the NFL Network described Wilson’s injury as a rough start for his career with the Broncos. In Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts, he sustained a right shoulder injury that needed a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.
Russell Wilson (hamstring) will not play Sunday against the Jets.
Brett Rypien will start. pic.twitter.com/It6uhVXJCa
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 22, 2022
Before this season, Wilson signed a five-year extension worth $245 million with the Broncos. He threw 116 completions for 1442 passing yards that resulted in five so far this season. He was sacked 20 times and got his pass intercepted three times.
Wilson was one of the offensive players that made the Broncos rank last in the league in scoring with an average of 15.2 points per game, as per Fox Sports.
Rypien to start, Johnson as backup
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Brett Rypien would start against the Jets. In addition, the Broncos have promoted Josh Johnson from the practice squad to replace Rypien.
The last time Rypien played as a starter for Denver was in Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Jets. He helped the Broncos to secure a 37-28 win by completing 19 out of 31 passes for 242 yards, and two touchdowns. The upcoming game will be his second career start and his first of the 2022 season.
The #Broncos will start QB Brett Rypien tomorrow vs the #Jets, as Russell Wilson won’t play, source said. The final determination was made after he threw this morning. Wilson received very few reps in practice this week.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2022
Rypien’s last appearance was in Week 16 last season against the Chargers which ended in a 34-13 loss for the Broncos. He subbed for an injured Drew Lock and ended his game with two touchdowns and four INTs. Throughout his career at the Broncos since 2020, Rypien played for four games and threw 27 out of 40 completions for 295 yards.
In the 2022 preseason, Rypien secured his place in team depth as the first backup of Wilson after an impressive performance, according to NFL Network. With the chance to play against the Jets, analysts noted that Rypien aims to help the Broncos get back on track.
While Russell Wilson wanted to play despite a hamstring injury and did everything he could to play, the Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett will hold back the 9-time Pro Bowl QB vs. the Jets to allow him to heal and prevent a lingering injury, per sources.
Brett Rypien gets the start. pic.twitter.com/UR11TisM8S
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2022
On the other hand, Johnson was signed to the practice squad after being released by Denver in August. The 26-year-old safety will be on the team roster against the Jets now that he has been promoted to the active roster.
The Broncos’ game against the Jets will be held at Empower Field High in Denver, Colorado, and it will be Wilson’s first absence of the season and his fourth in the league so far. He had previously played six games for the Broncos this season before suffering the hamstring injury.