Russ is out, Stidham in as Broncos quarterback

Sources: Sean Payton making change to spark disappointing offense. Wilson will be backup QB, proof contract a secondary factor.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo — In a move not completely unexpected given some complicated circumstances but shocking nevertheless, Broncos head coach Sean Payton is benching quarterback Russell Wilson and replacing him with Jarrett Stidham, most likely for the final two games of the regular season, a source confirmed to 9NEWS.

Payton during a conference call with local reporters Tuesday was rather candid in stating his disappointment with his offense that ranks No. 25 in total offense and No. 16 in points per game.

“Right now, we’re average to below-average, I would say, in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough,’’ Payton said.

While Wilson has been effective as an off-script, scramble quarterback late in games — as he was Christmas Eve Sunday during a rally from a 23-7 fourth quarter deficit against New England to a 23-23 tie before ultimately losing 26-23 — he has not been the best fit for operating Payton’s base offense.

A secondary issue is Wilson’s contract. He is guaranteed $39 million for next season, but his $37 million for 2024 only becomes guaranteed if he is still on the roster by the fifth day of the 2024 league year, or March 17. That $37 million is guaranteed for injury, so there is considerable incentive for the Broncos to not risk injury with Wilson in the team’s final two games which are Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Chargers and on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders the following Sunday.

However, Wilson will remain the Broncos’ backup quarterback, a source tells 9NEWS. He may well still play, evidence this is more about changing quarterbacks in hopes of improving the offense than it is for contractural reasons.

This is a move the Broncos have been discussing in recent weeks. The Broncos started this season 1-5, won five in a row thanks mostly to a surge of defensive takeaways, but have since lost three of their last four.

The Broncos still have an outside shot at the No. 7 AFC Wild Card playoff spot, but they have to win their final two games and hope at least four of the six teams ahead of them for that spot sputter.

Stidham has played in one game for the Broncos this year, mopping up a 42-17 loss at Detroit two weeks ago by handing off four times. He has started two games in his five-year NFL career and both came last year for the Raiders under similar circumstances.

The Raiders benched starting quarterback Derek Carr in large part to assure they would avoid contract injury guarantee and Stidham played fairly well in their last two games, completing 53 of 83 passes (63.9) for a whopping 656 yards and four touchdowns although he did throw three interceptions. Carr was released during the offseason and signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Stidham was a free agent after last season and signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the  Broncos. He played well for the Broncos in the preseason, completing 12 of 17 for 130 yards at San Francisco and 11 of 15 for 117 yards and a touchdown in a 41-0 rout of the Rams.

But this is not a Carr situation all over again. The Raiders sent Carr home for the final two games last year. Wilson is still at Broncos headquarters and is still one play away from playing again. If it was about Wilson’s contract, it would logically follow that Ben DiNucci, the Broncos’ No. 3 quarterback who is on the practice squad, would be promoted to the 53-man roster this week and serve as Stidham’s back up.

That’s not the case. If Wilson were making a minimum salary, Payton would still make the move, sources tell 9NEWS.

Wilson was acquired by the Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks in March 2022 in a blockbuster trade that had Denver surrendering two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks, starting tight end Noah Fant and defensive tackle Shelby Harris and backup quarterback Drew Lock.

Wilson was a disappointment in a 5-12 season for the Broncos last year, ranking a career-worst No. 27 among NFL passers, but greatly improved this year as he is No. 9 in passing.

Still, the Broncos are 7-8 and their offense overall did not make significant improvement from its standing of the past eight or nine seasons.

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