Sean Payton: Broncos QB Zach Wilson to make 53-man roster

[jetsons]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40995578/sean-payton-broncos-qb-zach-wilson-make-53-man-roster

Sean Payton: Broncos QB Zach Wilson to make 53-man roster

Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterAug 25, 2024, 09:50 PM ET

DENVER - The first step of Zach Wilson's career rebuild is nearly complete as Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said Wilson will be one of three quarterbacks who will make the roster after its cut to 53 players.

The news comes after Wilson helped lead Denver to a 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday's preseason finale.

Wilson said he is "grateful'' to have been traded to the Broncos and that "I'm loving it out here.'' Rosters leaguewide have to be whittled down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The Broncos acquired Wilson in a trade with the New York Jets just before the April draft after the former No. 2 pick had three tumultuous seasons with the Jets. Wilson got the majority of the playing time Sunday against the Cardinals as the team's starter, rookie Bo Nix, was not in uniform. Fellow backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham played only the opening possession.

Wilson finished 16-of-25 passing for 251 yards with two touchdowns to go with 22 yards rushing and another touchdown. Asked about the extended playing time Sunday, easily his most of the preseason, Wilson said he feels a growing comfort level in the Broncos' offense.

"I can't think of any games in my career when it feels like we're getting into a rhythm [like Sunday],'' Wilson said. "Even if you go three and out and get stopped here and there [with the Broncos], you feel like you're going to put something together. It feels good to feel that as an offense. One bad play happens and you expect something good to happen on the next one.''

Wilson was in what was initially a three-way competition for the Broncos' starting quarterback job throughout the offseason as well as the first week of the training camp. But from the second week of training camp on it was Nix and Stidham who battled for the starting job and divided the work with the starters until Payton named Nix the starter last week.

But Wilson has said he thinks he has rediscovered parts of his game and Payton has consistently maintained there is a place for Wilson on the roster because of Wilson's potential and "arm talent.'' Payton said after Sunday's game that Nix, Stidham and Wilson will all be on the roster after the team makes its cuts.

"We've got enough money to ... I understand the question,'' Payton said Sunday when asked if all three would fit within the team's salary cap. "We feel comfortable with those three quarterbacks. I think I've told you already I see the three of them making it.''

On Wilson's play against the Cardinals, Payton added: "Look, he made some impressive throws. ... He's got a live arm down the field, I thought he threw it away when it wasn't there. ... [He] had plenty of time on the play clock, to get in and out of plays if need be. It's been the better part of the last two and half weeks [that he's played well].''

Payton said during practices this past week Wilson "was on bit of a heater.''

From his arrival in Denver, Wilson has said he hoped to smooth the rough edges that marked his time with the Jets. He had a 12-21 record in his 33 career starts in New York, didn't complete at least 56% of his passes in two of the three seasons and had 23 total touchdown passes to 25 interceptions.

Sunday, preseason finale or not, Wilson said it was important to him to play without a turnover, and the Broncos offense did not have a false start, delay of game or procedure penalty.

"I feel like I've played enough to avoid having those issues,'' Wilson said. "Just the operation, getting the ball out of my hands, just playing quarterback how I'm supposed to, putting our team in the best position possible.''

Wilson said, with the most career NFL starts of the Broncos' quarterbacks, he is ready to help Nix through any rough spots if he can as well.

"We all want to play, we all want to be on the team,'' Wilson said. "We all want to do the best, but we all understand the other person's side of it so we all have each other's back. I want them all to do the best they can ... If I can be any sort of resource or help to [Nix] ... I will.

"I was excited for him, I don't think it was a surprise to a lot of people ... [But] I told him I'm excited for him,. I really believe they're putting him in a good situation.''

[bicketybam]

[T0mShane]

5 minutes ago, jetsons said:

I can't think of any games in my career when it feels like we're getting into a rhythm [like Sunday],'' Wilson said. "Even if you go three and out and get stopped here and there [with the Broncos], you feel like you're going to put something together. It feels good to feel that as an offense. One bad play happens and you expect something good to happen on the next one.''

Entitled baby-ass bitch

[BradSmith16fan]

15 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Entitled baby-ass bitch

Guy had 33 starts with the Jets and some of the highlights I saw tonight he had a lot of time to throw. Only thing Jets should get blamed for is drafting him. Not saying hope he doesn't have decent career, he just stunk with us.

[Larz]

You can’t really believe anything until after week 1.  
 

Even if he survives Wednesday cuts anything could still happen 

with that said. The broncos are starting a rookie and Zach played well today so keeping 3 makes sense for them 

[jeremy2020]

Broncos innovating by putting the water boy on the 53 man roster.

[Barry McCockinner]

[T0mShane]

3 minutes ago, BradSmith16fan said:

Guy had 33 starts with the Jets and some of the highlights I saw tonight he had a lot of time to throw. Only thing Jets should get blamed for is drafting him. Not saying hope he doesn't have decent career, he just stunk with us.

Payton has very consciously done two things for this silver spoon manchild twink titty-baby: 1. Giving very public displays of support for him while 2. Siloing Zach off from playing with anyone who’s going to make the actual roster. It’s the equivalent of taking a baseball prospect who’s melting down at AAA and sending him to Boca Raton to get his confidence back in A-ball. 

[RutgersJetFan]

3 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

… and sending him to Boca Raton to get his confidence back in A-ball. 

[Joe W. Namath]

Good for Zach.  Maybe payton sees him as a back up w/ upside.

Zach winning at life even more.  Young, rich, beautiful fiancee and a great paying job where he wont have to ever produce anything.

The American Dream!

[hawk]

I am happy to hear this.  

He had a way of finding his way to the starting position, and when Bo Nix misses time due to a minor injury and Stidham breaks his nose walking into a pole, Wilson will be the starting QB in New York on September 29th.

[BradSmith16fan]

40 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

Good for Zach.  Maybe payton sees him as a back up w/ upside.

Zach winning at life even more.  Young, rich, beautiful fiancee and a great paying job where he wont have to ever produce anything.

The American Dream!

Who's he in competition with in life? I understand football being a competition.

[Joe W. Namath]

1 minute ago, BradSmith16fan said:

Who's he in competition with in life? I understand football being a competition.

Vs jet nation board members

[BradSmith16fan]

14 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

Vs jet nation board members

I mean I hope he gets married to the woman and they have a lot of kids and joyous moments. I get where the board is coming from with the attacks because, at times, he seems he fits the profile of a "surfer" dude bro with no care, but I personally would try to refrain from personal attacks and attack his on the field play. Now can you say maybe his off the field attitude effects on field, ok fair enough. Just as a societal observation, I don't like the idea of "winners" and "losers" in life. I get in organized competitions that idea, but not life, as life is not an organized competition. Every religion it's reward or punishment, not winning or losing. Just my thoughts.    Edit: Bad wording, I should have said don't like the idea. I changed the wording from get to like.

Edited August 26 by BradSmith16fan

[TuscanyTile2]

1 hour ago, T0mShane said:

Entitled baby-ass bitch

Earned his way onto the roster.  Let's see what he can do from there, now that he has a legit CS.  He has all the talent in the world.

[TuscanyTile2]

1 hour ago, T0mShane said:

Payton has very consciously done two things for this silver spoon manchild twink titty-baby: 1. Giving very public displays of support for him while 2. Siloing Zach off from playing with anyone who’s going to make the actual roster. It’s the equivalent of taking a baseball prospect who’s melting down at AAA and sending him to Boca Raton to get his confidence back in A-ball. 

If he makes the roster then just take the L.

[T0mShane]

1 minute ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

If he makes the roster then just take the L.

Anyone from ProZach Nation telling me to “take the L” is RICH

[TuscanyTile2]

2 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Anyone from ProZach Nation telling me to “take the L” is RICH

Again, if he makes the roster then you can take your L.

 

 

[T0mShane]

3 minutes ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

Again, if he makes the roster then you can take your L.

 

 

If he makes the roster it’ll be the exact same thing as when Herm kept letting Kevin Swayne make the Jets roster. 

[Dunnie]

Anyone from ProZach Nation telling me to “take the L” is RICH

But is he Rich as **** ??? Adam Gaze wants to know.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[Untouchable]

I dream of a day when I never have to hear about either of these never-the-future dickheads ever again.

Maybe in the next life

[JKlecko]

30 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

If he makes the roster it’ll be the exact same thing as when Herm kept letting Kevin Swayne make the Jets roster. 

We'll see.  I'm not saying he will, but if Zach winds up learning, fully regaining his confidence and swagger, he could make you have to eat your words.

[Dunnie]

We'll see.  I'm not saying he will, but if Zach winds up learning, fully regaining his confidence and swagger, he could make you have to eat your words.

It will never change the fact that showing him the door was absolutely the right move for the Jets at the time. Was a disaster that was not getting better.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[Plen T]

The kid has looked awesome

Jet Fanbase embarrasses themselves yet again

[Testaverde9819]

 

[peebag]

Has Zach ever completed a screen pass?

[Jet_Engine1]

1 hour ago, Plen T said:

The kid has looked awesome

Jet Fanbase embarrasses themselves yet again

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

If Payton actually believes in ZW and really wants to boost his trade value, he should start him against the Jets 😬😊

Show the world what a properly coached and “supported” #2 overall pick can do vs a good defense 🤣🤣

[JoeNamathsFurCoat]

Sean Payton:  Zach looks rejuvenated.  We love him.  He’s def making the team.

Also Sean Payton:  Nix is the starter.   Look, I told Zach my job here at this point is to get him millions from another team 😂😂if I can

I guess they’ll keep him because he has zero trade value and his money is guaranteed anyway.

But the truth is Payton wants Zach off the team’s books as badly as he wants oxygen.

He’s privately praying another team is dumb enough to take Zach off their hands.

[defensedoesntgetyoulaid]

I watched the highlights and he looked like same old Zach Wilson to me. Made some nice throws here and there but had a ton of time to stand and survey the field. Also took a lot of sacks by sleeping in the pocket. In a real game I think his performance would be what everyone has grown accustomed to

[jamesr]

"potential and arm talent".

Same as I've heard about here for several years; then the pressure hits and it all goes south.

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[mrcoops]

3 hours ago, Plen T said:

The kid has looked awesome

Jet Fanbase embarrasses themselves yet again

Awesome?  He's 3rd string behind a rookie and Jarrett Stidham, whoever he is.

Let's not get carried away by some coach talk after the former #2 overall pick beat up on some future UPS drivers in preseason Game 3.

[SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN]

Zach still blows chunks .

[Rangers9]

They show cased him and he played well. As for 4th stringers Zach was sacked 4 times so maybe he had a good game with not good protection. I still think this is a set up by Payton to trade him. But there were no guarantees Zach would do well. His passing was sharp and accurate incl short patterns not too many NFL QBs can throw like that. 

[southparkcpa]

I still don't see any path to real success...  he just may play 10 years as a Kellen Clemons type.