Despite Russell Wilson "hoping" to play, the Broncos are prepping Brett Rypien to start as well

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The injury bug sweeping around the Denver Broncos has hit Russell Wilson again.

Not only is Denver’s franchise quarterback dealing with a partially torn lat near his throwing shoulder, on Monday night against the Chargers, Wilson suffered a hamstring injury.

Wilson is listed as day-to-day with the hamstring injury. With Denver on a short week, the team held a walkthrough, not a full practice. Because of that, Denver only had an estimated practice report, where Wilson was listed as a limited participant.

During the portion of practice open to the media, No. 3 was not on the field. However, shortly after, the Broncos’ twitter account tweeted a picture of him throwing a football from what appeared to be the practice field.

Before Wednesday’s walkthrough, less than 48 hours after suffering the injury, Wilson said he’s “hoping” to play on Sunday against the 4-2 New York Jets.

“I’m doing everything that I can to get ready to roll. That’s always my mentality,” Wilson said, about playing in four days. “If I can go, I’ll go. I’m going to try and do everything I can to be ready.”

Wilson added his hamstring is doing better every day and joked that he must have Wolverine’s blood because he heals quickly.

Nathaniel Hackett is also on the optimistic and hopeful side that his starting quarterback will be able to play less than six days after suffering the hamstring injury.

“With him, he’s a very tough competitor. He’s going to do every single thing that he can to possibly get out on the field,” the head coach added.

This isn’t the first time Wilson has dealt with a hamstring injury. However, if he isn’t able to play on Sunday, it will be the first time a hamstring injury held him out of an NFL game. In his 11 year career, Wilson has only missed a total of three games.

While Wilson said he’ll be honest with the trainers about how he’s feeling leading up to the game, Hackett will be the one that makes the final call on whether he plays. If Denver’s starter isn’t able to go, Brett Rypien will get his second-career start.

After Wilson suffered the partially torn lat against the Raiders in Week 4, Rypien received more first-team reps in practice as the team prepared to play the Colts. The fourth-year quarterback will once again be prepped to start incase Wilson can’t go.

“We’ll just be sure to get him ready as well as we can,” Hackett said about Rypien.

Rypien’s first and only NFL start came against the Jets, in New York, in 2020. In that game, Rypien led the Broncos to a 37-28 win, while passing for 242 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 67.6 passer rating.

But as of Wednesday, the Broncos’ aren’t counting Wilson out.

“Russell, he’s the ultimate competitor. He’s going to do everything in his power to get out on that field,” Hackett stated on Tuesday. “We have to make sure that he’s healthy enough to be able to go out and play at a high level. Whoever has to go in, whether it’s ‘Ryp’, Josh [Johnson], or anybody, [I] feel confident that we will try to build a plan for them that makes them successful.”

In his first six games as a Bronco, Wilson has five passing touchdowns to go along with three interceptions.