How the Denver Broncos are preparing for Russell Wilson's return

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A familiar face is on his way back to Denver.

“Wishing him well, and success and health,” Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said on Thursday, “each week besides this one.”

The Broncos traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and quarterback Drew Lock to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson in the spring of 2022. The Seahawks also threw in a fourth-round pick.

Then, the Broncos gave Wilson a five-year extension worth $245 million with $165 million guaranteed.

This spring, after two years, the Broncos had seen enough of Wilson. They decided to bite the bullet and release the quarterback despite the five years remaining on his contract.

In 2024, the Broncos will give Wilson $37.8 million in cash. That’s more than any player on Denver’s team. Wilson is taking up more than 20% of the Broncos’ total salary cap space. In 2025—the final year the Broncos will feel the direct effects of the Wilson Era—the quarterback will take nearly 12% of their cap space.

With the Broncos on the hook for a massive payout to Wilson, the Pittsburgh Steelers swooped in signed him to a minimum contract. The Steelers will give him $1.21 million in 2024… or .47% of of their total salary cap space.

On Sunday, the Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler who flamed out in Denver will return to the Mile High City as a Steeler.

“We’re not playing tennis or golf,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said. “We’re playing a team game, and we’re focused on the Steelers. They’re a good football team.”

Wilson’s return will be one of the marquee matchups in Week 2 of the NFL season… if it happens.

“We’ll play it by ear,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Wednesday.

A calf injury has limited Wilson in the past month. He missed the season opener. Justin Fields, a 2021 first-round pick whom the Steelers traded for one day after they signed Wilson, started in his place.

Wilson was listed as “limited” in practice every day this week. That means he participated in practice every day, but he missed some portion. Wilson could’ve sat out the vast majority of the drills. He may have only missed a single snap each day.

Pittsburgh listed Wilson as “questionable” for the game on Sunday.

“Obviously, if his availability is questionable, then starting is less so,” Tomlin said.

All signs are pointing toward Fields starting on Sunday. The Steelers have spent the week building the offense around him. Although there are similarities between the two quarterbacks—for example, both prefer to throw the ball toward the sidelines, not over the middle—an offense tailored for Fields is different than an offense tailored for Wilson.

The Broncos have spent time studying both quarterbacks.

“Obviously, you prepare for both,” Payton said. “Both guys have different strengths. You have a plan for both, but certainly, it starts with Fields.”

Fields is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL. Cornerback Pat Surtain II says the Broncos’ defensive gameplan will be based on the quarterback’s speed if Fields is in the game.

“With a guy like that, we have to make sure that we plaster the receivers and don’t allow them to get second chances because we know that Justin creates second opportunities for the receivers and for their offense,” Surtain said. “When you [have] a dual-threat quarterback like that, you really have to lock in and hone in [on the] second play ahead, rather than the first play.”

But just because Fields appears to be the starter doesn’t mean the Broncos won’t see Wilson. If the Fields-led offense stalls out—which wouldn’t be a surprise since the Steelers ranked 25th in offense in 2023 and ranked in the 20s in Week 1—Pittsburgh could turn to Wilson to provide a spark.

At the very least, Wilson should be the Steelers’ emergency quarterback. He held that role in Week 1. And he dressed in full gear and eye black.

At the very least, Wilson will return to Empower Field… and his former teammates will decide whether or not to roach him.

“I’ll keep that between me and him,” left tackle Garett Bolles said.

Right guard Quinn Meinerz gave more detail.

“If anything, I’ll do it after the game,” Meinerz said. “Pregame, I don’t have any friends on the other side.”