The NFLPA has threatened the Denver Broncos with legal action following the controversial decision to bench quarterback Russell Wilson for their final two games of 2023.
On Wednesday, the Broncos announced that the nine-time Pro Bowler was being benched in favor of backup Jarrett Stidham for the final two moves. Wilson confirmed to reporters on Friday that he was being benched for financial reasons, as the Broncos would owe Wilson $37 million in guaranteed money for 2025 if he suffered an injury.
Wilson told reporters that the Broncos warned him during their Week 9 bye that he’d be benched if he didn’t adjust the injury guarantees in his contract.
According to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, the union warned the Broncos back in November that benching Wilson could lead to legal action:
“The NFL Players Association told the Denver Broncos in an early-November letter that the team’s threat to bench quarterback Russell Wilson if he did not agree to adjust his contract was illegal and violated the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, creating the possibility that the union would initiate an arbitration proceeding or litigation against the team and the league.”
Wilson has put together a nice bounce-back campaign under head coach Sean Payton, completing 66.4 percent of his pass attempts for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.
