LONDON — Head coach Nathaniel Hackett said Friday after the Broncos practiced here that quarterback Russell Wilson will start Sunday against Jacksonville “barring any setback.”
Wilson missed a 16-9 loss against the New York Jets this past Sunday because of a hamstring injury, just the fourth game in his 10-plus years as an NFL player he’s not started.
“Russell’s always going to think he can go, that’s what you love about the guy,” Hackett said. “He’s always going to want to be out there and he’s a true competitor. For us, we wanted to be sure we gave him time to be able to get his mind right, his body right, everything.
“Just being out here watching him throw, watching him move in the pocket, we felt a lot more comfortable than we did last week.”
Wilson practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday and after Wednesday’s practice proclaimed himself, definitively, “ready to rock.”
Hackett laughed when asked if he and the team had considered the fact that sitting out one more game could have given Wilson two weeks more recovery since the Broncos don’t play next weekend.
“Yes and no. When you talk to Russ and mention that, it’s not a great discussion,” Hackett said. “In the end, if he can go, we want him to go.”
More good injury news. Not only is Wilson returning to the field, but so is inside linebacker Josey Jewell. Jewell had missed the past two games with a knee sprain suffered against Indianapolis earlier this month. Defensive lineman Mike Purcell (knee) and defensive back K’Waun Williams (wrist/elbow) also came off the injury report and will play against the Jags.
Five out. Several players, however, will not. It was already clear that outside linebacker Baron Browning (hip) and tackle Cam Fleming (quad) will not play. Neither, Hackett confirmed, will safety Caden Sterns (hip), wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland (groin) or cornerback Essang Bassey (hamstring). Sterns was placed on injured reserve Friday. His replacement on the roster for Sunday could be either a player from the practice squad or tackle Tom Compton, who is currently on PUP. Hackett and offensive coordinator Justin Outten, though, said they’d bring Compton along slowly and he just began practicing on Wednesday.
Ozigbo up again? Hackett said the team is considering activating running back Marlon Mack, who was just signed off of San Francisco’s practice squad on Monday morning before the team left for England, but could also elevate Devine Ozigbo from the practice squad for the second time this season.
“(Mack) is definitely an option,” Hackett said. “Devine has done a great job also, and he’s a guy we’re interested in potentially activating for the game. We’re lucky we have four guys we think can go out there and play.”
