Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was knocked out of last Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a concussion. Now, the team has made the decision to keep him out of this Sunday’s game as well.
Head coach Nathanial Hackett said Monday that Wilson “felt great” but said the team would proceed with caution around their starting quarterback.
“Russell is in the concussion protocol,” Hackett said Monday. “We’re gonna do everything the way the medical doctors say, the independent doctors. His safety is by far the No. 1 most important thing. We’ll continually talk to him, to everybody else about that, and make sure we do the right thing.”
Friday, Hackett confirmed that while Wilson has cleared concussion protocol, he will not play on Sunday.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson has passed the concussion protocol, but he will not play against the Cardinals.
Nathaniel Hackett: “As an organization, we’ve decided to give him another week.”
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) December 16, 2022
“As an organization, we’ve decided to give him another week,” Hackett said, per insider Aric DeLalla.
The truth is that the Broncos have no incentive to rush Wilson back onto the field. They’ve been eliminated from playoff contention and Wilson’s had a brutal year on the field. Denver might as well let him rest up and figure some things out while also giving their backups a chance to get more experience.
Brett Rypien will get the start for the Broncos against the Cardinals and Wilson said that he’ll do whatever he can to help him.
“As a competitor, as a guy who wants to go out there and win no matter what our record is, I want to be out there,” said Wilson, who will “do everything [he] can” to make sure Rypien and others are ready.
