ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos will be without their starting quarterback Sunday versus the Jets. 

Russell Wilson will not play Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury against the Chargers Monday night, the team announced Saturday. Wilson was a limited participant in practice throughout the week, with backup Brett Rypien splitting reps with the first team. Rypien will now start in place of Wilson, making his second career start. 

The decision to sit Wilson was ultimately coach Nathaniel Hackett and GM George Paton’s decision, knowing it was in Wilson and the team’s best interest to sit the star quarterback, who has also been battling a shoulder injury. Wilson said Wednesday that he has “wolverine blood” and heals quickly, and that has been true throughout his career, having previously only missed three games due to injury in 11 NFL seasons. 

But it was clear during practice viewing periods that Wilson was limited in his mobility. And on Friday, Hackett explained what would go into deciding whether or not Wilson would play. 

“It’s so important to have the communication with him,” Hackett said. “First and foremost, I want to be sure that we’re doing the right thing for him, which then essentially helps the entire team. I know he’s going to do the right thing and I’m going to do the right thing. Our entire organization, the medical staff has been great, (GM) George (Paton) has been great and (CEO/Owner) Greg Penner has been great. Just the whole group, on just making sure we’re doing all the right stuff with Russ.”

It’s unclear how long Wilson will be out, with his status next Sunday against the Jaguars in London likely being questionable. For this week, and maybe beyond, it will be Rypien’s offense. 

“It would be great,” Rypien said Friday of the possibility of starting. “I had one against the same team. Obviously, this is what you dream of to do in the NFL. You want to play and you want to get opportunities. So, if it does happen, great.”

Rypien’s only other start in the NFL came against the Jets in Week 4 of the 2020 season. In that game, Rypien was 19 of 31 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Broncos won that game 37-28.

For Rypien, who was a rookie at the time, it was a valuable experience. 

“I learned a lot. The game was up and down. The fourth quarter was obviously pretty crazy,” Rypien said. “It’s just ball. You play this game since you were a kid and you realize once you get back out there, everything is obviously a little bit faster, but at the end of the day it’s just football. You’ve got good players on your side too. You’ve just got to do your job the best you can and put some points on the board.” 

Hackett said Rypien has done well this week in practice and has been impressed with Rypien since training camp. Rypien beat out veteran Josh Johnson for the backup job, after an impressive camp and preseason. In three preseason games, Rypien threw for 441 yards, one touchdown and one interception. 

Now in his third NFL season, Rypien made the initial 53-man roster for the first time in his career. Rypien said he’s learned a lot this season sitting behind Wilson, who has helped him prepare for this week’s game, knowing there was a chance Rypien would be starting. 

“He’s been great,” Rypien said. “I think we have good conversations every week. Nothing’s really changed there. We’ve been talking about more so how we see this defense, how we want to attack it. Pretty much been the same.” 

With Wilson out, the Broncos are also elevating Johnson, who spent the season on Denver’s practice squad. Johnson has has played 10 seasons in the NFL, suiting up for seven different teams and making nine career starts. 

But it’ll be Rypien’s show to start Sunday, as he takes over an offense that has been struggling, ranking last in scoring offense. Though, Rypien has stayed ready and is hoping to be a spark for the Broncos. 

“It can happen at any moment,” Rypien said. “You’ve seen it around the league. There’s been a lot of guys who have gotten hurt already and it’s only Week 6. So you’ve got to be ready to go every single week.” 

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