DENVER – Zach Wilson remains No. 2 on the unofficial list. He also remains on the third team in terms of playing time he receives in practice – and, as shown last Sunday in Indianapolis, in preseason games.
But that status didn’t mean he couldn’t impress Sean Payton. Quite the opposite, as the Denver Broncos head coach was more effusive in his praise of Wilson in the training video than ever before when asked about him after practice on Wednesday.
“I thought his performances in the game were really good,” Payton said“…I felt like he was really comfortable again. We were in the group and out again. There was no clock. I mean, it all went smoothly.”
Broncos coach Sean Payton liked what Zach Wilson showed on Sunday:
“His decision making and his aggressiveness. I like that he makes shots. He’s got a good, lively arm. I thought he had a really good game… I mean, you could feel it on the sideline. You could feel experience, just poise.” pic.twitter.com/nrNwuBJ3Zl
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) 15 August 2024
But his ability to handle pre-snap routines was just the beginning of what Payton appreciated about Wilson’s game.
“He’s aggressive. I like that he makes shots,” Payton said.
In fact, according to data compiled by Pro Football Focus, Wilson’s average depth of target on Sunday was 8.9 yards, greater than Bo Nix’s average (7.4 yards) and Jarrett Stidham’s average (7.7 yards).
But Payton also pointed out the value of experience. When asked about Wilson earlier, he mentioned that Wilson has a composure that comes from his 33 career NFL appearances – 29 more than Stidham and Nix combined.
“I liked the way he played, and I mean, you could feel it on the sideline. You could feel experience, just poise,” Payton said. “Even in the timeout when we were trying to get them offsides, I was giving him a hard time (and asking), ‘Can you get these guys offsides with your squeaky voice?’
“I’m just challenging him.”
Zach Wilson 🤝 Peyton Manning
📷: @Broncos pic.twitter.com/qI1RgiNEci
— Ensign Gridiron (@EnsignGridiron) 17 August 2024
The question now is whether Wilson has shown enough commitment to actually push for second place – which increasingly seems like he is putting pressure on Stidham.
Zach Wilson had the only turnover of the day among the quarterbacks, but it wasn’t entirely his doing. His interception during the seven-on-seven period caused a pass to slip from the hands of David Sills into the hands of safety Omar Brown. One play earlier, Wilson dropped a 10 down the right sideline that was dropped.
Wilson didn’t get a chance in the phase where the ball had to be moved because Payton decided to go two units deep before the double horn at the end of the practice.
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