Russell Wilson is headed into a make-or-break season with the Broncos.
The quarterback had a torrid 2022 debut campaign in Denver but is hoping to make it a distant memory in 2023, especially as he will have Sean Payton coaching him this time around.
According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, who recently interviewed Payton, Wilson lost around 15 pounds during the offseason in a bid to improve.
“That’s his challenge with Wilson, whom he likes as a person and as a player. He believes Wilson, 15 pounds lighter than last season, had a good camp,” Wickersham wrote about the new Broncos HC. “Payton doesn’t run a slant any differently than Nathaniel Hackett, whose tenure as Broncos head coach in 2022 lasted 15 games. He just needs to run it at the right time.”
Payton also revealed the cold advice he offered his quarterback following his acquisition earlier this year.
The former New Orleans Saints coach was appointed by the Broncos in January and immediately got down to telling Wilson he needs to focus less on his squeaky-clean image.
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“Will you F-ing stop kissing all the babies?” he claims to have told the QB. “You’re not running for public office.”
There’s some intrigue surrounding the Broncos heading into the 2023 season, with everyone keen on finding out whether Russell could replicate prior form under Payton.
Denver will kick their season off with a game against the Las Vegas Raiders this Saturday.
