Russell Wilson speaks out on Broncos benching and confirms franchise ultimatum
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has confirmed that he was asked by the team to defer his injury guarantee, leading to him being benched.
The 35 year old's future with the Broncos is now uncertain after head coach Sean Payton announced that Jarrett Stidham would be starting for the rest of the 2023 season. Wilson, who joined the Broncos in 2022 and signed a five-year, £192.3 million contract extension last September, was eligible for a £29m injury guarantee if he failed a physical in March 2024.
However, he turned down a request from the Broncos two months ago to delay this guarantee, which led to their tough decision. The Broncos' chances of reaching the playoffs this season are slim at just seven percent, following a surprise defeat against the New England Patriots in Week 16.
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Despite a winning streak mid-season, it seems the team gave Wilson an ultimatum during this time. "They came up to me during the bye week, beginning of the week maybe Monday or Tuesday, and told me if I didn't change my contract, my injury guarantee, I'd be benched for the rest of the year with nine games left or so," revealed Wilson on Friday.
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"I was definitely disappointed about it and it was a process for the whole week. We'd just come off beating the Chiefs and played pretty well against them so I was excited for us to fight for the playoffs given the hot streak. And then NFLPA, NFL got involved." He added.
Wilson is due to receive a substantial guaranteed payment from the Broncos - £22m this season, with a rise each subsequent year. Although the Broncos' request isn't unreasonable, Wilson has the right to say no, as it was a deal agreed soon after the trade that was agreed with Seattle.
Things have taken a sour turn, and it's thought that Wilson will be dropped by the Broncos in March due to his refusal to comply with their request. Despite everything, Wilson insists he will remain professional until the end, and is even doing his best to support Stidham for the remainder of the season, asserting he wants to be the 'best teammate' possible.
"Obviously I love being out there playing with our guys and doing whatever it takes," Wilson commented on Friday. "I think for me, I came here to play here, to win. I knew it was going to be a process and I signed a seven-year deal for us to go play hard. That's my goal every time I step between the white lines, to give everything I have."
Wilson wants to remain with the Broncos but may be forced out (No credit)Although he'd like to stay with the Broncos, Wilson knows it's not his call. With former boss Nathaniel Hackett and present coach Payton at the helm, the Broncos haven't made the playoffs since Wilson joined two years ago, and the club is already looking at their finances for 2024.
"I want to be here, I want to play here, give everything I have, I want to win championships here and give my all every week no matter what the circumstance is, or what the score is," emphasised Wilson. "I want to be the best teammate and leader I can be."
"I told Jarrett I'd help him, lead him, do whatever it takes, and keep the guys going." To have any hope of reaching the playoffs, the Broncos must defeat the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday, despite the slim 7 percent chance leaving them as underdogs.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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