Not even the greatest skeptic expected the Russell Wilson experiment could’ve gone this bad.

Through five weeks, Russell Wilson ranks 22nd in passer rating, 24th in ESPN’s QBR, 16th in DVOA, 20th in EPA/play, 20th in CPOE, and 29th in success rate. By every advanced metric imaginable, Wilson is a bottom-third NFL quarterback.

It’s been a major contributing factor to the Denver Broncos’ offensive struggles, which have been dramatic, as they have scored fewer points through five weeks than any team during the Vic Fangio tenure. The quarterbacks for those squads? Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, and Teddy Bridgewater, all of whom are currently operating as backups.

Fortunately, Wilson knows he has to step up.

“Yeah, it’s very simple. At the end of the day, I have to be better,” Russell Wilson said to diagnose the offense’s struggles through the first month of the season. “I have to play better. This team, this defense played their butts off tonight. We had some key, good drives [where] we moved the ball. In the red zone, we just didn’t get to capitalize on some of them. There were some plays here and there that we can capitalize on. We were [facing] third and long again too much. It’s always tough on offense when you’re third-and-15, third-and-17, this and that. At the end of the day, throwing two interceptions can’t happen. Can’t happen. I let the team down tonight. The good thing is that one thing I know about myself is [that] I’m going to respond. I don’t know any other way. I always believe in myself. I always believe in this team. I believe in what we can do. I believe in what I can do. When you play this game, the one thing you’re going to know is that you’re going to go through adversity. Adversity is a choice, and I’m always going to choose to understand that adversity is just temporary and you’re going to overcome obstacles and battles. We’re all working together. We’re all still together focused on trying to do whatever it takes. It starts with me, and I’ll make sure that I do that.”

According to reports from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and 9News’ Mike Klis, Russell Wilson flew to Los Angeles this weekend to get a shoulder injection to heal an injury that’s been bothering him the past two weeks.

If the procedure is successful, maybe the Mile High City will finally get the quarterback play they’ve been waiting on for nearly eight years.