When Russell Wilson says the Broncos’ off-day is for dissecting film and studying the next opponent, his teammates listen.
Wilson’s “State of the Union” meetings, held since he was a rookie in Seattle and now carried on to Denver at the team facility in Dove Valley, are held each Tuesday on normal game weeks during the season. The quarterback uses the player-led, offense-only meeting as a means to assess the unit’s play the previous week, as well as start diving into the defense they’re facing that Sunday.
“It’s voluntary obviously, but all the guys come in and they’re so wired in, so focused, and a lot of guys have watched the film already,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of a review session rather than a dissertation.
“(It’s about) spending time with the guys, making sure we go over the film, go over the personnel, go over the fronts, know what the pressure looks are (this week), who their pressure guys are, all that information,” Wilson said. “Plus, who the head coach is, where does he come from, what’s his discipleship, where the defensive coordinator comes from, all that (backstory).”
Does Wilson supply hard copies to his teammates of reports that summarize all the intel he’s gained on upcoming opponents through his decade-plus in the league?
“That may be confidential information,” Wilson laughed.
Billy Turner. Signed to fill the hole at right tackle this offseason, the veteran has yet to play in recovery from an offseason knee scope. The Broncos have leaned on Cam Fleming to hold Turner’s spot until he comes back.
It appeared as if Turner would make his season debut in Week 3 against the 49ers, but he was inactive. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who coached Turner in Green Bay and has repeatedly said he trusts Turner’s recovery timetable, said the Broncos are “just trying to get him over the hump.”
Turner was a full participant in practice in the week leading up the Houston game, and was a full participant once last week, and limited twice. Wednesday, he did not practice.
“We want him to come back feeling strong and confident,” Hackett said.
Injury updates. In addition to Turner, receiver Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), linebacker Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), linebacker Randy Gregory (knee), defensive tackle D.J. Jones (concussion), cornerback Darius Phillips (hamstring) and left guard Dalton Risner (ankle) also didn’t practice.
Hackett said Risner is “day-to-day” and the team will evaluate his status more as the week goes on. Fellow guard Quinn Meinerz, meanwhile, was limited. Meinerz hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in Week 1 in Seattle, though he was active last week.
If the Broncos are down Risner and Meinerz again this Sunday, it will be Graham Glasgow filling in at one spot (he can play either) and rookie Luke Wattenberg likely making his NFL offensive debut (the fifth-round pick played one special teams snap in Week 1) at the other.
Special teams honor. Punter Corliss Waitman was named the AFC special teams player of the week on Wednesday after his 10-punt performance against the 49ers. Waitman had a franchise-record six punts downed inside the 20-yard line, with two inside the five-yard line and zero touchbacks along with 476 total yards.
Waitman is the fourth Broncos punter to receive the honor, and the first since Todd Sauerbrun in 2005.
