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The Broncos lost any realistic shot at making the playoffs by falling to the Patriots on Sunday, giving them a 7-8 record — and just a 1.4% chance of reaching the postseason — with 2023 winding down. Now they’re benching quarterback Russell Wilson for the final two games.
The Broncos insist the decision to turn to backup Jarrett Stidham is meant to provide an offensive “spark” after a 1-3 stretch — that it has nothing to do with the QB’s contract, per CBS Sports HQ Senior NFL insider Josina Anderson. But the writing is on the wall: Wilson had recently sidestepped questions about his future in Denver beyond 2023, while an injury in the final two games would’ve prevented the Broncos from seamlessly releasing the QB after the season, should the team desire to move on.
Why did Sean Payton make the move from Wilson to Stidham?
“I can tell you, look, we’re desperately trying to win,” the head coach said, via 9News Sports in Denver. “The No. 1 push behind this, and it’s a decision I’m making, is to provide a spark offensively. Obviously it’s difficult, and all of us feel like ‘man, we didn’t do well enough,’ but one of the things we saw when we signed Stidham in the offseason, not only from preseason games but regular-season games, but he’s a guy I’m excited to see play.
“If I didn’t feel like he gave us the chance to win, we wouldn’t be making that move.”
Wilson has certainly improved on his erratic 2022 Broncos debut, leaving Week 16 with 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 98.0 passer rating — his best in three years. But Denver’s offense has struggled overall, ranking No. 16 in scoring and No. 25 in yards per game. And then there’s the QB’s lucrative contract, a $245 million whopper set to count $35.4M against the 2024 salary cap.
Might Payton and the Broncos’ relatively new ownership group already prefer to hit the reset button under center? Sure. Again, while Wilson was…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/broncos-bench-russell-wilson-for-rest-of-2023-to-provide-offensive-spark-can-team-get-out-of-qbs-contract/
Author : Cody Benjamin
Publish date : 2023-12-27 22:09:20
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