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Broncos Wire will have weekly updates now through the end of training camp on the latest storylines from practice and preseason. This is the fourth edition.
Russ watch: Coming off the worst season of his career, Broncos QB Russell Wilson is now entering Year 2 in Denver and Year 1 under new coach Sean Payton. His first game under Payton was mostly positive with the veteran QB going 7-of-13 passing for 93 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 1 of preseason. “He was sharp,” Payton said of Wilson after the game. “He’s had a good week at practice.” Wilson’s numbers could have been better if not for a drop from WR Jerry Jeudy and spotty protection from Denver’s offensive line (Wilson was sacked once and hit multiple times). The performance of that offensive line will play a big role in Wilson’s ability to have a bounce-back season, but the QB himself is off to a good start.
Rookie watch: RB Jaleel McLaughlin set the NCAA’s all-time record with more than 8,000 rushing yards in five seasons. The small (5-7, 187 pounds), speedy running back could be a candidate to fill a role that Darren Sproles once held under Payton with the Saints. McLaughlin rushed four times for 20 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards in his NFL debut last week. He’s competing for Denver’s RB3 job behind Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine this summer.
This post originally appeared in Sports Weekly.
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