The Denver Broncos could end up having a change of heart on quarterback Russell Wilson.
In a surprise move, the Broncos decided to bench Wilson for their final two games of the 2023 season. The Broncos did this because if Wilson got injured, they would have owed him $37 million in guaranteed money for the 2025 season.
But in an interesting twist, Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted to reporters that Wilson could very well return as the team’s starting QB in 2024, via ESPN’s Jeff Legwold:
“I told him, ‘Look, I don’t think it’s going to be a long, drawn-out process,’ but it hasn’t been decided relative to what our plans are. As soon as we know something certainly, he would be the first to know.”
“Yeah, listen, otherwise it would have been like ‘hey, goodbye.'” We’ll look at all the scenarios and try to do what’s best for the Broncos. But communication will be important, and, yeah, that final decision hasn’t been made.”
Per Legwold, Payton also informed reporters that he talked to Wilson for 30 minutes on Monday, the day after the Broncos wrapped up their season against the Las Vegas Raiders. Payton and Wilson even had a converstation about “a scenario where Wilson” returns in 2024.
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The Broncos acquired Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks two years ago, then handed him a five-year extension worth $245 million. After a forgettable first year in Mile High City, Wilson bounced back under coach Payton and threw for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.
Wilson had the Broncos in playoff contention until they suffered a heartbreaking last-second loss to the lowly New England Patriots in Week 16. Still, the 8-9 record marked Denver’s best finish since the 2016 group that went 9-7 a year after they won Super Bowl 50.
