Renck & File: Get those high knees working, Russell Wilson. We need you in Denver next Sunday

When you go low, he goes high knees.

Time for Russell Wilson to find an aisle on the plane to Atlanta. Get him a transfusion of wolverine blood, STAT. There is no therapy off the table, no app dismissed.

We need Wilson’s ailing calf to heal to start Sunday, leaving him in position to face the Broncos in Week 2 at Empower Field. That game without Wilson is like “Star Wars” without Darth Vader. He makes the juice worth the squeeze.

Wilson is questionable to play against the Atlanta Falcons after re-aggravating a training camp injury. His status could be determined in pregame warmups. Normally, caution would be the advised path. My concern? If Justin Fields replaces Wilson and plays well, the 35-year-old might not get his job back.

That would stink.

Other than coach Sean Payton returning to New Orleans in October, no Broncos game features more interest. Understandably, it is difficult to ask Broncos Country to pull for Wilson. He made $124 million in two seasons for 11 victories and made headlines for eye-rolling stuff like his office, birthday party and four-hour high knees workout on the plane to London.

Wilson had allies in some Broncos players, and others were indifferent or worse. Payton was not a fan, doing everything but driving the quarterback’s Uber to the airport to facilitate his exit. The drama would not be manufactured. There would be hard feelings on both sides. And fans would revel in the fervor at a raucous Mile High. Remember, there is no guarantee that the Broncos will play meaningful games in December. Can we have one in September?

We need Russell Mania. Pump those arms. Raise those knees. Get well soon, Russell.

Chief Concern: The NFL has a number of issues — though its TV ratings leave them immune to crisis — and chief among them is Kansas City. In the Chiefs’ nationally televised games, the average fan sees biased officiating in the defending champion’s favor. Thursday night, the Ravens became the poster team for illegal formations with tackle Ronnie Stanley flagged three times in the first half while Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor escaped punishment with a similar alignment. The Chiefs are already too good. They don’t need help from the ref show.

Contract Delay: Jamal Murray has still not agreed to a max extension. He was shooting jumpers at Ball Arena this week, so it’s too soon to say that something is amiss. But each day the Nuggets guard goes without a new contract, it is fair to wonder about his short- and long-term future.

Whiff in the Air: The Rockies remain on pace for 102 losses. They rank second in MLB with 1,393 strikeouts. And they make up for the lack of contact with a lack of speed (75 stolen bases). To not make some changes would be laughable, regardless of how much they like their young core of players.

Mail Time

I read where the Broncos are expected to activate Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad to the game. I was curious why teams place roster players on the practice squad at the beginning rather than simply placing them on the 53-man roster to begin with since they know they are going to play? 

— Scott Bristol, email

Scott, it is a function of flexibility, a strategic move. The COVID-19 pandemic was horrific, but it spawned the expanded practice squads that allow players with unlimited service time. The 16-person squad is valuable because there are veterans who will clear waivers after training camp — like Humphrey and fullback Mike Burton — and young players who will not. So, the Broncos kept a developmental project like tackle Frank Crum rather than risk losing him. It will not be a surprise if both start on Sunday at Seattle. A practice squad player can be activated three times. On the fourth activation, the player must be added to the active roster. In a nutshell, it is roster gymnastics, and the Broncos are good at it.

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