Russell Wilson Knee vs. Weight: Why’d Seahawks QB Flop with Broncos?

Is this an explanation for why Russell Wilson, who manipulated his way out of Seattle, performed so poorly with the Broncos?

As the old saying goes, "It's only 'minor' surgery if it's performed on somebody else.''

On the heels of his awful 2022 season as the face of the franchise with the Denver Broncos, quarterback Russell Wilson - the former face of the franchise for the Seattle Seahawks - went under the knife this off-season.

NFL Network reported that Wilson underwent a knee scope following the season. As Ian Rapoport put it: "Broncos QB Russell Wilson had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee following 2022, a procedure to fix an issue that had nagged him for a few seasons.''

Is this an explanation for why Wilson, who manipulated his way out of Seattle and was then the centerpiece of the 2022 offseason blockbuster trade to Denver - performed so poorly with the Broncos?

It is, we suppose, as valid an excuse as any for Wilson's sharp decline. In 2022, Wilson passed for career-lows in completion percentage (60.0) and touchdowns (16) and his 84.4 QB rating was also a career low.

Wilson finishing with 3,524 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions, all part of a Denver offense that was in many ways the NFL's worst.

Wilson, 34, will now be working with a new head coach in Sean Payton, and maybe there will be a magical fix for the nine-time Pro Bowler ... and maybe the "clean-up'' surgery will help.

But there is something else. Wilson seems to be on a fitness kick this summer. And he has clearly dropped weight after critics have labeled him (maybe last year at 230 rather than at 215) “chubby” … and worse.

Rapoport said. "He'll be at full health for 2023.'' And good for Russ. But the knee clean-up is one helpful thing. Not carrying too much weight on the body being supported by those knees is another.

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