Broncos coach calls report on Russ ‘gossip’
The Broncos haven’t been able to adequately protect Russell Wilson, who is on pace to get sacked a career-high 56 times this season behind a patchwork offensive line and a bunch of replacements at receiver and running back.
Several of his teammates, though, doggedly defended their clobbered quarterback from the latest arrow directed his way, a report on an NFL Network podcast that the QB had “lost” some members of the locker room as the Broncos spiral through a hugely disappointing season.
“I’ll say this: Russ is an amazing leader,” safety Justin Simmons said. “He’s an amazing teammate and ... I know it’s a quarterbackdriven league, but leadership never falls under one guy.”
Simmons said there’s plenty of blame to go around for the Broncos’ bad season, but he was stumped by the latest barb directed at Wilson.
“I don’t know where that report would have come from,” Simmons said.
Coach Nathaniel Hackett, who has taken plenty of heat himself over the Broncos’ season, also dismissed the report.
“To me, it’s all gossip. I know this locker room — we have a fantastic locker room,” Hackett said. “When you look at a guy like Russ, he’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen somebody work that hard. I’ve never seen somebody try to embrace a team like he has.”
OBJ begins tour with Giants
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will kick off what’s anticipated to be a three-city free-agency tour when he meets Thursday with the Giants, the team that drafted him in 2014.
Beckham is expected to talk with coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Team surgeons also are expected to examine his left knee.
Beckham has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee twice. The last time was in the Super Bowl in February while playing for the champion Rams. He has been rehabbing all season and is now looking for a job.
Beckham is expected to visit the Bills and Cowboys in the next week.
Donald to miss first game
Seven-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will miss a game because of injury for the first time in his NFL career Sunday, when the Rams host the Seahawks. Donald has a high ankle sprain from the loss last Sunday at Kansas City.
Donald sprained his ankle in the first quarter but kept playing on it, coach Sean McVay said. He won’t need surgery, but his ironman streak will end at 86 consecutive games since the finale of the 2017 regular season.
Jackson leaves practice early
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not finish practice Wednesday because of a quadriceps injury. The team said Jackson left practice early to receive treatment from a trainer and would not be available to speak to reporters.