Jerry Jeudy anticipates big comeback season for Russell Wilson

One of the biggest trades in the 2022 offseason was the trade of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, a move that was supposed to help the Broncos emerge as a playoff team.

Instead, the Broncos went 5-12 and got first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett fired.

Russell Wilson had the worst season of his career, taking more sacks than any other quarterback in the NFL during the 2022 season and failing to do much to make the Broncos competitive. Still, teammates have expressed belief in him this offseason.

“Russ is a soldier ,” said receiver Jerry Jeudy at a youth football camp in Denver, according to the team’s website. “So just the way he handles his business, the way he handles situations, I just know the type of guy he is and the stuff that he can overcome.

“In the situations like that, that don’t put no fear into a man’s heart. And I know that this year, he got a big year coming ahead.”

Russell Wilson finished the 2022 campaign with a respectable enough 3,524 yards passing, but he had the worst touchdown to interception ratio of his career at 16 to 11. He added 277 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Injuries did play a part in his 2022 campaign, too. Wilson missed time in concussion protocol late in the season, then underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason to clean up his knee.

Getting fully healthy again and getting to work for a new offensive-minded coaching staff could put Russell Wilson right back on track. Denver hired former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton to steady the ship this offseason, with Payton bringing long-time offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi with him.

And there’s little doubt Wilson can be highly competent when he’s comfortable in an offense and healthy.

The Super Bowl XLVIII champion is a nine-time Pro Bowler and has previously been the NFL’s passer rating leader (2015) and passing touchdowns leader (2017). He was named a second-team All-Pro as recently as 2019.

Before establishing himself as a star in the NFL, Russell Wilson was a third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Wilson played his college football at NC State (2007-10) and Wisconsin (2011), where he was an All-ACC selection in 2008 and 2010 and an All-Big Ten selection in 2011.