Broncos hint at shift from Wilson
Coach Sean Payton isn’t providing anything definitive on Russell Wilson’s time in Denver, but he did hint at the Broncos moving on from him when he suggested the team cannot afford to miss on “the next one” at quarterback.
Payton met with the media at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday and said the club should know by the end of next week what direction they’ll take at QB.
Asked if he embraced the idea of finding a solution at quarterback, one that’s eluded coaches and GMs ever since Peyton Manning retired eight years ago, Payton retorted, “Yeah, we better. In this league, which is very competitive in our division, it’s vital.”
Payton then relayed a funny meme that caught his attention recently.
“There’s a Broncos fan with a shirt on with like eight quarterbacks’ names crossed through them” Payton said. “Our job is to make sure this next one doesn’t have a line through it.”
The next one.
That sounds as though Wilson’s time in Denver might be over, something that’s seemed imminent since he was benched for Jarrett Stidham the last two weeks of the season.
The Broncos have delved into the free agency class of quarterbacks and will meet with the college passing prospects at the combine this week.
Wilson has won just 11 of 30 starts with the Broncos since his trade from Seattle two years ago.
Watson gets OK to throw:
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will resume throwing next month following right shoulder surgery that cut short his second season with Cleveland after just six starts.
Watson, who fractured a bone in his throwing shoulder in a win over Baltimore on Nov. 12, has been cleared to throw in a few weeks, general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday at the NFL combine.
“He has worked his tail off in terms of rehab and recovery,” Berry said. "He’s in a really good place.”
The 28-year-old Watson has made just 12 starts in three seasons for the Browns, who acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Texans in 2022.
Raiders keeping Adams: Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco said the team is not interested in trading wide receiver Davante Adams or using the franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs for a second time.
Falcons cut TE Smith: The Atlanta Falcons released tight end Jonnu Smith, who set career highs with 50 receptions for 582 yards last season, in a costcutting move that will save the team $6.5 million in salary cap space.