Broncos' Sean Payton shares expectations for Russell Wilson this season

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton suggested that a "lean and mean" Russell Wilson will return to the form that made him a nine-time Pro Bowl selection after the quarterback endured a rough debut campaign with the club. 

"He’s moving really well," Payton said about Wilson during a conversation with NBC Sports' Peter King. "One of the things he’s always done exceptionally well is deliver the ball off-schedule. A play breaks down, he can go get 18 yards or he can flush the pocket. He’s exceptional in that area."  

Wilson appeared noticeably slimmer as far back as May, and King noted that the 34-year-old played last season at 225 pounds "to be able to take more hits in the pocket" but is now down to 212 pounds. It was explained earlier this summer that Payton wants "to see Wilson turn upfield and use his legs more when the play breaks down" this coming season after the veteran recorded just 55 rushing attempts during the 2022 campaign.

To compare, Wilson had 83 rushes across 16 games two seasons ago.  

"I would say this — he’s gonna be a lot closer to those 2021 numbers than he was the 2022 numbers," Payton added about Wilson. "The arm talent and the throws down the field. He’s always thrown a really good deep ball. But I do think he’s moving a lot better. And you know there’s something powerful about a guy with a chip on his shoulder." 

Per ESPN stats, Wilson ended the 2022 regular season ranked 27th among qualified players with a 36.7 adjusted QBR after he signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $245M with $165M guaranteed. 

It's thought Payton could bench Wilson in favor of backup Jarrett Stidham during the Week 9 bye if the former performs poorly over the first half of the upcoming season, but it sounds like the coach expects his QB1 to be back to his best self when Denver opens the campaign with a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 10.