Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos hope that quarterback Russell Wilson can return to his old form next season.
The Broncos finished 5-12 last season, last place in the AFC West, in large part to Wilson looking like one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league during large swaths of play.
If Wilson can’t return to form, or worse, suffers a long-term injury, the Broncos recently made a move to protect themselves in that scenario.
The Broncos signed former XFL star Ben DiNucci to a contract. DiNucci led the XFL with 2,671 passing yards during the 2022 season as a member of the Seattle Sea Dragons. He attended the Broncos mini-camp last week and is expected to back up Wilson.
The NFL world was quick to react to the news:
Denver just loves Seattle quarterbacks
— CANT GUARD ANA 🏈 (@FootballGirlAna) May 14, 2023
Not bc he’s good. But because he gets to say his name when talking about the broncos now
— Calvin (@FlockCwood) May 14, 2023
Russell Wilson is finished
— Nick (@NotoriousFNTSY) May 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/TeeForest/status/1658185994066092042
Dude looks great in Orange. Conrats @B_DiNucci6 Seattle appreciates what you did for the Sea Dragons.
— Bob Kershner 🚹 (@bkershnerhawk12) May 15, 2023
The Broncos made the move despite DiNucci starting off on the wrong foot. Payton joked about DiNucci throwing an interception on his first attempt in camp.
“Unfortunately for Ben DiNucci, it was his first interception, and there was more to that interception if you looked at it,” Payton said, according to Sports Illustrated. “It was good play by Sanders and it was right in front of [team owner and CEO] Greg Penner. I was telling Greg before practice how this Ben DiNucci was doing well. I told Ben, I said, ‘You know, he owns Walmart. If it doesn’t work out here, I’m sure there’s a greeting opportunity somewhere at one of his local stores (laughs).'”
