Unfortunately for Denver Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith, he missed all of Russell Wilson's last season in the Mile High City.
He can't wait to welcome back his old teammate in Week 2 this season, though.
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's set to play for the third team of his career, one that has featured nine Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks, but in Denver hi fell upon ill fortune.
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.
Clearly, Griffith is hoping to play a significant part in Wilson falling to 0-2 playing against his former teams.
Griffith is quite simply champing at the bit just to return to the field after the 27-year-old missed all of the 2023 season following an ACL tear suffered in August. An undrafted free agent out of Indiana State, Griffith spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts before joining the Broncos. From 2021-22, Griffith played in 22 games for Denver with 12 starts.
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 has the highest of hopes not just for Week 2 against his former quarterback, but for the season as a whole. When it comes for his 2024 aspirations, he's aiming to have an all-star campaign and then some.
"Honestly, if your goals aren't scaring you, what do you have goals for? Honestly, my goal is to be All-Pro this year," Griffith said. "Just measuring myself versus other top linebackers in the league, I think I can be that. Just go out there and do what I do, just take my game to the next level and don't leave any meat on that bone."
Making a huge play against Russell Wilson in a high-profile tilt would surely offer evidence that Griffith is not just back and healthy, but on the right path to achieving said lofty goals.
