Broncos LB Jonas Griffith wants to 'pick off' former QB Russell Wilson in Week 2 game vs. Steelers

Unfortunately for Denver Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith, he missed all of Russell Wilson‘s last season in the Mile High City.

He is excited to welcome his old teammate back in Week 2 of this season.

Eager to get back after a season-stealing ACL tear, Griffith envisions nothing better than intercepting the new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback when the Broncos host Wilson and Co. on Sept. 15.

“I’m really excited obviously for any game I get to play in,” Griffith said recently on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan. “But you see that one you’re excited to go out there and — beat the Steelers, first of all, it’s a good organization. I want to pick off Russ, for sure. I think that would be really cool, just to pick him off and get the victory, first and foremost.”

Wilson, viewed as the frontrunner for the Steelers’ QB1 spot ahead of Justin Fields heading into training camp, returning to Denver after a disastrous two-year tenure and subsequent ugly divorce has plenty of spice already. Griffith clearly isn’t shying away from wishcasting a spoiler role in the veteran QB’s Colorado return.

Wilson is preparing to play for the third team in his career, a team that boasts nine Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks. However, his luck took a turn for the worse in Denver.

In his first game with the Broncos, Wilson memorably lost to his old squad in Week 1 of the 2022 season. Though the 2024 Steelers-Broncos showdown won’t have quite the anticipation as the Broncos-Seahawks bout, it’ll still have intrigue aplenty.

Evidently, Griffith is aiming to play a crucial role in Wilson’s potential 0-2 record against his former teams.

Griffith is extremely eager to return to the field after missing the entire 2023 season due to an ACL tear in August. The 27-year-old, originally an undrafted free agent from Indiana State, has previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts before becoming a part of the Broncos. Between 2021 and 2022, he participated in 22 games for Denver, starting in 12 of them.

Now, the inside backer is battling for playing time next to Alex Singleton and has proclaimed himself fully healthy after a lost season. Playing in Week 2 in Denver would mark Griffith’s first home game since Week 7 of the 2022 season — which just so happened to be a loss to the New York Jets and quarterback Zach Wilson, who’s now his teammate.

“I mean, I definitely have room to grow from conditioning and everything, but I’m 100 percent,” Griffith said. “I participated fully in OTAs and minicamp, and honestly, my knee feels better than it did before. Just getting a new knee, getting a new ACL, it was a lot better, so, I mean, and we rehabbed it all year. It’s great, man. And I have no pain. And I’m itching [to play a game].”

Griffith harbors lofty hopes not only for Week 2 against his ex-quarterback, but also for the entire season. In terms of his 2024 ambitions, he’s targeting an all-star season and beyond.

Griffith honestly stated, “If your goals don’t intimidate you, then what’s their purpose? My personal objective this year is to be All-Pro.” He compared himself to other top-ranking linebackers in the league, confident that he could match their level. “All I need to do is perform my best, take my game a notch higher, and make sure no opportunities are wasted,” he added.

A significant play against Russell Wilson in a high-profile game would certainly prove that Griffith is not only back and healthy, but also on track to achieve his ambitious goals.