Denver Broncos Shock NFL by Benching Russell Wilson for Brett Rypien

The Denver Broncos Make a Shocking QB Change

In a surprising move, the Denver Broncos have decided to bench star quarterback Russell Wilson. This news comes despite the Broncos trading a massive haul of draft picks to acquire Wilson from the Seahawks less than a year ago. The benching marks a dramatic turn of events for Wilson and the Broncos.

Wilson's Struggles Lead to Bench Decision

Wilson was brought in to help turn the Broncos into a contender after years of quarterback struggles. However, the 2022 season did not go according to plan. Wilson battled injuries and put up mediocre numbers as the Broncos sputtered to a disappointing 3-8 start. With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Broncos have decided to take a look at backup QB Brett Rypien instead of Wilson.

In 10 starts this season, Wilson has thrown for 2,558 yards with 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His completion percentage of 60.5% is the second lowest of his career. Wilson has also struggled with fumbles, coughing up the ball 9 times already this season.

The Broncos offense as a whole has been dismal, averaging just 14.3 points per game. That ranks dead last in the NFL. With the offense unable to find any rhythm under Wilson's leadership, head coach Nathaniel Hackett hopes Rypien can provide a spark.

Explaining the Shocking Decision

Why would the Broncos bench a 9-time Pro Bowler making over $50 million dollars in the first year of a massive contract? Hackett explained the team's thought process behind the decision:

"Russell is our guy, he's our quarterback. But we haven't been winning with him. We need to change something to get the offense going. Brett has looked good in practice and we want to see what he can do out there. This gives us a chance to evaluate him in live-game action."

While Hackett still maintains Wilson is the team's long-term answer at QB, he felt a change was warranted given their offensive woes. The Broncos need to find out if Rypien deserves a shot at competing for the starting job next season. With the Broncos likely out of playoff contention, now is the perfect time to give Rypien an extended audition.

Wilson's Reaction to the News

According to reports, Wilson was understandably frustrated and disappointed when informed he was being benched. Wilson gave his perspective on the situation:

"I'm definitely not happy about this. I came here to win games and get us to the playoffs. I want to play, I'm a competitor. But I respect Coach Hackett's decision and I'll support Brett and the team however I can."

Wilson went on to say he plans to continue working hard in practice to correct his mistakes from this season. He aims to come back improved in 2023 to prove he is still an elite quarterback. However, Wilson admitted the benching hurts and was not easy for him to accept after never missing a game due to injury or poor performance.

What This Means for Wilson's Future

The benching casts doubt on Wilson's future as the Broncos quarterback. Denver gave up significant draft capital and committed over $240 million to acquire him. Wilson was supposed to be the missing piece that catapulted Denver to Super Bowl contention.

Now just one year into the massive contract, the Broncos appear to have serious buyer's remorse. At minimum, Wilson will have to compete with Rypien or another QB next season for the starting job. At worst, Denver could look to trade Wilson and cut their losses after 2022.

However, Wilson's contract is prohibitive to move. His salary is fully guaranteed with massive cap hits through 2026. The Broncos would incur a $107 million dead cap hit if they trade or release Wilson after this season. It seems likely Wilson will be back in Denver next year, but he will need to improve his play to regain his firm hold on the QB1 role.

Looking Ahead to Life Without Wilson

With Wilson sidelined for the remainder of 2022, the Broncos will get an extended look at backup QB Brett Rypien. The fourth-year pro has played well in limited opportunities. He has completed over 70% of his passes in relief duty this season, albeit in a small sample size.

Rypien provides a stark contrast to Wilson as a traditional pocket passer with limited mobility. The Broncos offense will likely rely more on the ground game with Rypien under center. Running backs Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack should see increased carries and the offensive line will need to step up their run blocking.

It will also be interesting to see if Rypien can develop better chemistry with the Broncos pass catchers. Wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy have failed to meet expectations playing with Wilson so far. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam has also been an afterthought most games.

While playoffs are unlikely, the Broncos should be motivated to close the season strong under Rypien. The remaining games will serve as an important evaluation period for Rypien, the O-line, and skill players. Their performance could determine how aggressively Denver looks to upgrade the QB position this offseason.

The Road Ahead

Benching Russell Wilson is a controversial move by the Broncos, but time will tell if it pays off. Wilson's struggles are concerning, but writing him off completely after one bad season may be premature. He will need to get healthy, refine his game, and rebuild trust with Hackett and the team to reclaim his starting spot.

In the meantime, Rypien gets a 5-game audition to state his case as a potential QB of the future. His play could alter the course of the Broncos offseason plans at football's most important position. No matter what happens, the Broncos QB situation will continue to be one of the NFL's top storylines when the 2022 season concludes.

FAQs

Why did the Broncos bench Russell Wilson?

The Broncos benched Wilson because of his struggles and the offense's lack of production this season. Wilson has thrown for just 8 touchdowns in 10 games and the Broncos rank last in scoring offense. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett felt a change was needed to spark the offense.

Who is replacing Russell Wilson at QB?

Backup quarterback Brett Rypien will take over as the starter after Wilson's benching. Rypien is in his fourth year with the Broncos and has shown promise when called upon. The Broncos want to evaluate how Rypien performs in extended game action.

Is Russell Wilson done as the Broncos QB?

Wilson's future as the starter is uncertain after this benching. However, his large contract means he will likely be back in Denver next season. Wilson will need to improve his play and rebuild trust to regain the job full-time from Rypien or another QB brought in to compete.