Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson got emotional following Denver's 27-24 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday as he discussed his teammates' support of him amid a 4-12 season.
Wilson's first year in Denver hasn't been much to write about: Through the Week 17 loss to Kansas City, he has completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 3,241 yards and 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His play has led not only to outbursts against the quarterback from within his own team, but also the firing of first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett.
Following Sunday's defeat — a game in which he completed 26 of 38 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown to one interception, adding two rushing scores — Wilson shared his appreciation of teammates going to bat for him. Among those players were receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler and offensive lineman Garrett Bolles.
.@DangeRussWilson got choked up when asked about several of his teammates sticking up for him on social media this week. @Kj_hamler @jerryjeudy @gbolles72 @Broncos pic.twitter.com/x19cMR3mN4
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) January 1, 2023
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“It meant the world to me,” Wilson said of his teammates' support. “It meant the world to me because I give my all every day. I don’t know anything less. So, I’m grateful for these guys because they’ve worked their butts off.
"All I want to do is help this team win, and us find a way to do it. And I know we're going to overcome all those obstacles. And I'm not going to blink. Because I know who I am, I know the dedication I have for this game, and how much it means to me."
Jeudy and Hamler specifically reacted to a report that Wilson had his own office in the Broncos' locker room, adding another facet to a widely reported disconnect between him and the rest of the team.
Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler coming to Russell Wilson’s defense. pic.twitter.com/VrEOYMoj2O
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 29, 2022
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Regardless of Wilson's dedication and his teammates' support, the Broncos find themselves playing a largely meaningless game in Week 18 against the playoff-bound Chargers.
The team will need to make several changes moving forward into 2023 to avoid a similar outcome to this season, including finding a new head coach. What changes Wilson makes in that offense, if any, remain to be seen.
