The Denver Broncos have announced that Jarrett Stidham will start at quarterback for their Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are making a transition despite an eight percent chance of making the playoffs coming into Week 17, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Coincidentally, Stidham replaced Derek Carr for the final two games of the 2022 Las Vegas Raiders season. However, media members covering the NFL point out a deeper reason for the benching.
The Athletic's NFL insider Dianna Russini reported that the Broncos contacted Wilson's representatives in late October, saying he would lose the starting job if he declined to defer the trigger date for his 2025 injury guarantee. That guarantee is worth $37 million and will be triggered on March 17, 2024, the fifth day of the NFL's league year.
However, no changes were made in the contract, per Russini. Hence, the Broncos' willingness to maintain financial flexibility could motivate Wilson's benching. Wilson will get the guaranteed money if he fails a physical next offseason. Benching him starting in Week 17 ensures he won't be injured.
But as Russini also tweeted, the Broncos are expected to cut Russell Wilson in March 2024. Cutting him that early translates to an $85 million dead cap for Denver.
Russell Wilson is expecting to be cut by the Denver Broncos in March, per league sources. For almost two months, the quarterback has been starting knowing the organization was most likely going to move on him from after this season.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 28, 2023
Conversely, releasing him after June 1 allows the Broncos to distribute that amount over two seasons. However, doing so will trigger the $37 million injury guarantee.
If Wilson has played his final game for the Broncos, he will finish the 2023 season with 297 completions for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Wilson's stint with Denver ends after two seasons, even if his five-year, $242.5 million extension has him under contract until 2028.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks found some viable starters through the draft picks Denver gave them to acquire Russell Wilson. Seattle drafted Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, and Devon Witherspoon using the selections the Broncos surrendered.
-Lance Fernandez