Zach Wilson Delivers Big Stat Line In Preseason Finale
Denver Broncos third-string quarterback Zach Wilson got pretty much all the run in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field on Sunday with rookie first-round starter Bo Nix taking a seat. In the 38-13 beatdown of Arizona, Wilson went 16-for-25 passing for 251 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while also carrying the ball two times for 22 yards and a rushing TD. Jarrett Stidham started the game and went 2-for-4 for 28 yards on just one possession. Wilson's best play of the day was a 46-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Johnson in the fourth quarter. The 25-year-old QB also fumbled, but it was recovered by Denver. It was nice to see Wilson get some positive momentum heading into the regular season, but the former first-rounder is still expected to be Denver's QB3 behind Nix and Stidham when Week 1 arrives in two weeks.
Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham Expected To Make Broncos' Roster
The Denver Broncos are expected to carry backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham on their initial 53-man roster, according to comments from head coach Sean Payton following Sunday's preseason finale. In discussing the quarterback room of Wilson, Stidham, and rookie Bo Nix, Payton said, "I see the three of them making it." Nix has already been declared the Broncos' starter, and it sounds like both Wilson and Stidham will keep their jobs, too. It's unclear which signal-caller will be given the backup designation and which quarterback will serve as the emergency third-stringer on gameday, though it's worth noting that Stidham appeared to have the edge on Wilson prior to Sunday's preseason contest. Regardless of the exact depth chart, Nix is the only Broncos quarterback worth considering for a roster spot in fantasy football.
Zach Wilson Works As Clear QB3 In Preseason Opener
Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, as expected, worked as the clear QB3 in Sunday's preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium against the hosting Indianapolis Colts in the team's preseason opener behind Jarrett Stidham and rookie first-rounder Bo Nix. Wilson mostly worked with the third-team offense on Sunday and finished by going 10-for-13 passing for 117 yards without a touchdown or interception. He had three carries for minus-one yard but avoided a sack. The former first-round pick of the New York Jets came to Denver for a new opportunity after flaming out in the Big Apple, but his chances of competing for the starting QB job pretty much evaporated when the Broncos took Nix 12th overall in April's draft. The 25-year-old didn't look very good in spring practices and is well off the fantasy radar in 2024.
During offseason practices, Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson has ceded most of the repetitions to Jarrett Stidham and rookie first-rounder Bo Nix. Wilson had a total of three practices with the first-team offense this spring compared to five for Stidham and four for Nix. There will officially be an open QB competition between Wilson, Stidham and Nix this summer at training camp, but it would be a pretty big surprise if Wilson came out the winner heading into the Week 1 regular season opener this fall. The 24-year-old former first-rounder fizzled out in impressive fashion with the New York Jets, and the Broncos predictably declined his fifth-year option after trading for him this offseason. Wilson has a strong arm but showed questionable decision-making in his time with the Jets. He's off the fantasy radar, even in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Broncos Not Picking Up Zach Wilson's Fifth-Year Option
The Denver Broncos have informed quarterback Zach Wilson and his representatives that they won't pick up his fifth-year option, according to sources. The Broncos acquired the New York Jets' former second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft early last week and then selected QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in this year's draft. Wilson's option would have been for a guaranteed $22.408 million in 2025. The Jets will pay a significant portion of Wilson's $1.055 million base salary in 2024, and he's now headed for free agency next spring. Wilson, Nix and Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games in 2023 when the team benched Russell Wilson, will compete for the starting job in Denver in training camp this summer. It's a fresh start for Wilson, but he has not looked like a starter in his first three years in the league with a 57% completion rate, 25 interceptions and 23 touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos are acquiring former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson from the New York Jets on Monday, according to sources. The Broncos are expected to send a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Jets for Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round selection, with the teams dividing his guaranteed camp roster bonus. The Broncos released Russell Wilson this offseason and were heading into this week's NFL draft with Jarrett Stidham as their starter under center in 2024. Wilson now has a much better shot at playing time with a change of scenery in 2024 after being benched in his final season with the Jets, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll beat out Stidham in training camp. The move to acquire Wilson also won't preclude the Broncos from selecting a QB in this year's draft, possibly as early as the first round.
The New York Jets are prepared to move on from quarterback Zach Wilson, the former second overall pick in 2021, if an interested team makes a worthwhile offer, but they aren't in a hurry to do so. "At that same time, we're obviously open to trading Zach. There have been discussions. Nothing's really changed since we talked in Florida. We're open to trading him, there's just no news to report on that," general manager Joe Douglas said. Unsurprisingly, Wilson has chosen to stay away from the team's voluntary offseason workouts. Wilson was thrown into the fire immediately after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 last year, and he failed to improve behind a leaky offensive line. If no teams offer the Jets what they want for the 24-year-old Wilson, there's a chance he could stay in New York and sit behind Rodgers and veteran backup Tyrod Taylor.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson has not reported to voluntary workouts this offseason, according to general manager Joe Douglas. The team has reportedly been trying to trade the former No. 2 overall pick, but trade talks have been at a standstill. With Tyrod Taylor backing up Aaron Rodgers this season, the Wilson project is likely over in New York. The 24-year-old has completed 57% of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions through his first 34 NFL games. A change of scenery would likely be a positive thing for the young signal-caller and the organization, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
There's a chance that quarterback Zach Wilson could end up staying with the New York Jets in 2024. "If we don't trade him, we're going to keep him," owner Woody Johnson said. The Jets gave Wilson and his representatives permission to seek a trade last month, but with the rest of the league already making moves to acquire other QBs ahead of next month's NFL draft, the demand for Wilson has been non-existent this offseason. If the Jets do end up trading Wilson, they'll basically be giving him away. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2021 out of BYU has fallen flat in his three NFL seasons and was benched in 2023 after throwing for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seen picks in 12 games (11 starts) after Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) got hurt. The Jets already signed veteran Tyrod Taylor to serve as Rodgers' backup in 2024.
With both quarterbacks Mac Jones and Justin Fields being traded this offseason for essentially pennies on the dollar, the New York Jets' prospects of trading former first-rounder Zach Wilson are looking bleak. Both Jones and Fields have shown more promise in their careers than Wilson at this point. The 24-year-old has thrown 25 interceptions and 23 touchdowns while completing only 57% of his passes in three seasons. He's also had off-the-field incidents that don't portray him favorably as a teammate. The Jets have been ready to move on from Wilson for a while, but now it looks unlikely that they can fetch a Day 3 pick for him. There have been no reports of interest around the league in Wilson since the Jets allowed his agent to seek a trade, although the Ravens, Broncos and Chiefs could look to upgrade their current backup options.
Zach Wilson
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Broncos
