The Denver Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson on Wednesday and, depending on who you believe, his contract was a big factor — if not the primary factor.
After news broke that Wilson was being benched, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that it was “a football decision.” Mike Klis of 9News posted a similar tweet, stating that Wilson dressing as the backup quarterback proves that this move was not motivated by money.
That reporting from NFL Network and 9News was directly contradicted by Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, who reported Wednesday that the Broncos “threatened to bench Russell Wilson weeks ago if he didn’t remove his injury guarantees.”
Citing multiple sources, Schultz reported that Wilson’s benching “is solely financially related and has been in the works for weeks.” Denver, according to the report, approached Wilson on Oct. 31 and “told him he would be made inactive for the rest of the season if he did not adjust his contract.”
If he can’t pass a physical on March 17 next year, Wilson would have $37 million of his 2025 contract become guaranteed. The Broncos threatened to bench him if he did not adjust that part of his contract, according to Schultz.
The sides discussed contract changes for several weeks but the negotiations “ended with no change,” according to Schultz. Then, after Denver lost to the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve, coach Sean Payton decided to bench Wilson, ruling out the risk of injury over the next two weeks.
KMGH-TV’s Troy Renck confirmed Schultz’s report:
Confirmed Jordan's report. #Broncos wanted to move back injury guarantee date of fifth date of league year this offseason. They wanted to push it back with it feeling like intention was to have Wilson compete for job in training camp in 2024 without guaranteeing him the 2025… https://t.co/QI3T1iuO3V
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 27, 2023
The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini also confirmed the report:
The Broncos reached out to Wilson's representatives in late October and explained that Wilson would lose the starting job and be made inactive for the rest of the season if he did not defer the injury guarantee trigger date that he has for 2025, per multiple league sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 28, 2023
Mike Klis of 9News has offered this counter report:
Several league sources strongly refuted reports the Broncos threatened to bench Wilson if he didn’t adjust an injury guarantee. No threats were made, according to the sources, saying the team dropped the topic when no agreement was reached to focus on the rest of the season.
Speaking to the media after Wednesday’s practice, Payton acknowledged “economic” considerations, but he also insisted that he’s starting Jarrett Stidham to give a spark to the offense in an effort to win.
“I understand all the speculation and everything that surrounds a move like that,” Payton said. “And I can tell you, look, we’re desperately trying to win. And sure, in our game today, there are economics and all those other things. But the No. 1 push behind this — and it’s a decision I’m making — is to get a spark offensively.”
Wilson, 35, will have his $37 million in 2025 become guaranteed if he’s still on the roster on March 17. The Broncos seem likely to release the quarterback before that deadline.
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