ESPN
Luckily for the Broncos, the guy who faces the most heat this season is the guy most equipped to handle it. The locker room, the city, the state and the region expect [Russell] Wilson can take the Broncos where Peyton Manning did. Wilson embraces pressure, but the Broncos acquired him in a franchise-changing trade. A slow start for him or a first-year coaching staff would certainly bring about grumbling from the team's faithful — as there was in 2012, when Manning opened his first season with the team 2-3. But the Broncos didn't lose for the remainder of that regular season. Wilson has met expectations so far, but he had better get used to carrying them in a place where more than one quarterback has buckled under them.
Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
My question is whether Wilson — flush with both cash and organizational juice — will air it out with more frequency than we saw for most of his Seattle run. Pete Carroll's stubborn reliance on running the football didn't always sit well with Wilson, and there's logic to the idea of Wilson's offensive philosophies having more traction with new Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett. That said, a Denver running game led by Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon has serious potential. This is an offense where balance makes sense.
Monday Morning Quarterback staff, Sports Illustrated
Brady and Matthew Stafford both won Super Bowls in their first season after leaving their longtime teams. No pressure, Russell Wilson.
Bleacher Report
In Russell Wilson, the Broncos hope to have added the final piece in the playoff puzzle — the best quarterback the team has had since Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset after winning Super Bowl 50. … In [Courtland] Sutton and [Jerry] Jeudy and running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III, Wilson has no shortage of weapons at his disposal.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
They went out and traded to get Russell Wilson to make a real Super Bowl push. But I still see them as the fourth team in the division.
Before the Broncos officially get into their first game week of the 2022 season, they got in some work on the practice fields.
Javonte Williams during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Darrius Shepherd, Russell Wilson and Tyrie Cleveland during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Billy Turner during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Melvin Gordon III during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Andrew Beck during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Melvin Gordon III during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Pat Surtain II during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Billy Turner during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Ronald Darby during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Randy Gregory during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jonathan Kongbo during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Nik Bonitto, Aaron Patrick, Jonathan Kongbo, Baron Browning, Bert Watts, Jonathon Cooper, Randy Gregory, Garrett Lawrence, Bradley Chubb and Dom Capers during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Bradley Chubb during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Baron Browning and Bradley Chubb during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Bradley Chubb during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Baron Browning during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jonathon Cooper during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Kendall Hinton during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Montrell Washington during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
KJ Hamler during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Kendall Hinton during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Darius Phillips and Christian Parker during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Josh Johnson during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Ejiro Evero and Nathaniel Hackett during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jalen Virgil during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Delarrin Turner-Yell during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Eyioma Uwazurike and Billy Turner during practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Randy Gregory, Aaron Patrick and the outside linebackers during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Mike Purcell, Dre'Mont Jones, Defensive Quality Control Coach AC Carter and D.J. Jones during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Ronald Darby, Melvin Gordon III, Montrell Washington and others during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III, Montrell Washington, Courtland Sutton and Tyrie Cleveland during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Ronald Darby during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
KJ Hamler during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Corliss Waitman during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Javonte Williams during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Dalton Risner during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Courtland Sutton during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Bradley Chubb during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Javonte Williams during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Randy Gregory during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Simmons during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Eric Saubert during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Pat Surtain II during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Ronald Darby and Bradley Chubb during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Kareem Jackson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Simmons and Pat Surtain II during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jacob Bobenmoyer during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Nik Bonitto during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jerry Jeudy during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Delarrin Turner-Yell during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Simmons during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Josey Jewell during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Strnad during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Caden Sterns during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Faion Hicks during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Mike Boone during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Russell Wilson during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
DeShawn Williams during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Jonathan Harris and McTelvin Agim with the defensive line during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
KJ Hamler during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Billy Turner and Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett during practice at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on August 31, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Tyrie Cleveland during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Damarri Mathis during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
D.J. Jones during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Billy Turner during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Dre'Mont Jones during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Ronald Darby during practice on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos
Bo Wulf, The Athletic
Entering Year 11, Russell Wilson has only had one season with a losing record. … Of the 10 teams with new head coaches this season, the Broncos are the only one to pair a first-time head coach with first-time coordinators on both sides of the ball. Maybe this is Wilson's team more than it is Nathaniel Hackett's, but it might be reasonable to expect some growing pains.
Austin Gayle, The Ringer
The pressure is on for star quarterback Russell Wilson—who last week received a massive contract extension to lock him in as Denver's long-term starter—and head coach Nathaniel Hackett to make the Broncos relevant again. Wilson is already a much-appreciated presence in Denver and an obvious upgrade from their quarterback situation in 2021, but just an improvement over last year won't be enough for the 33-year-old Wilson to overtake both Mahomes and Herbert in the AFC West.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk
The bar is higher than it should be for a team that has undergone many changes over the past two years. Especially since they have to compete with the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers.
Nate Davis, USA Today
There's no sugarcoating the loss of WR Tim Patrick (ACL), but this could create an opportunity for KJ Hamler to showcase his speed — and few quarterbacks are more capable of leveraging it than deep ball sniper Russell Wilson.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Broncos have a real passing game again with Russell Wilson throwing to a healthy Courtland Sutton and others, but their strength might remain the running game with Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. How good the defense supports that side will depend on how much Bradley Chubb can set the tone and get required help on every level.
