Broncos QB Rypien gets reps with Wilson limited
With starter Russell Wilson limited by a hamstring injury, backup QB Brett Rypien has taken a large portion of snaps with…
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was limited in practice Thursday, the second consecutive day his hamstring injury has curtailed his workload.
Backup quarterback Brett Rypien has taken a large portion of the snaps with the starters over the past two days and although he declined to dive into specifics before practice, coach Nathaniel Hackett said Rypien must be prepared to play Sunday against the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High.
When asked how he had split the practice between Wilson and Rypien, Hackett said: “We’re working through all that. We’re going to work through all that, making sure we’re taking care of Russ, getting ready for the game.”
Asked if the split was 50-50 or if Rypien got more work, he said: “Don’t know the number. We want to be sure we’re getting everybody ready to play.”
Wilson suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Wilson received a magnetic resonance imaging exam Tuesday and has been listed as a limited participant the past two days of practice.
Wilson was already receiving treatment for a partial muscle tear near his right shoulder since the Oct. 2 loss in Las Vegas. The Broncos leave Monday for London to prepare for the Oct. 30 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars before a Week 9 bye.
Hackett said he will continue to talk to Wilson, evaluate Wilson in practice and consult with the team medical staff and general manager George Paton before he makes a decision on how to proceed with Wilson for Sunday.
“I want to be sure I’m talking with [Wilson], communicating with him, making sure he’s in a good mindset, that he’s in a good place, that he can go play high-caliber football,” Hackett said. “[I want to] put somebody out there that’s healthy who can go out there and play at a high level.”
Asked Wednesday if he thought he would be able to play, Wilson said, “I’m hoping so. I’m doing everything I can to be ready to roll. That’s always my mentality. … If I can go, I’ll go. I’m going to try to do everything I can to be ready.”
Wilson has missed three games in his career — all last season after surgery on a finger on his right (throwing) hand.
The Jets have an aggressive defense that sacked Aaron Rodgers four times in their 27-10 victory Sunday over the Packers. Jets’ defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was named the AFC defensive player of the week with five tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal attempt.
“They’re a penetrating defensive front and they cause havoc,” Hackett said. “But those guys are doing really well, especially in the stunt game, that’s something you see a lot, as big and strong and powerful as they are they’re very nifty to get through the gaps whenever you give them a sliver of hope.”
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