NFL exec believes Russell Wilson is on verge of being benched
Russell Wilson's reign as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback may soon be meeting its inevitable end.
According to an NFL executive, the nine-time Pro Bowler would need to play lights out over the next three games for head coach Sean Payton not to bench his quarterback after the team's Week 6 bout with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I believe Wilson will have to play phenomenal to avoid getting benched," the exec said to Mike Sando of The Athletic. "The way (Sean) Payton has talked about Wilson, I would look for it after the Kansas City game, when they have a 10-day break."
Payton's handling of Wilson early on in their tenure together points to a coach gung-ho on altering his quarterback's approach. This offseason, Payton barred Wilson's private quarterback coach from the team's facilities. He also poked fun at Wilson's much-criticized obsession to perfect his public image.
"Will you f--king stop kissing all the babies?" Payton told Wilson this offseason. "You're not running for public office," via ESPN's Seth Wickersham.
Believe it or not, Wilson has taken steps forward this season after a grueling first year in the Mile High. He's thrown for 300-plus yards in two of Denver's three games, a feat he accomplished only once in 2022. His passer rating has climbed by 15.1 while his 65.4 completion percentage is his best mark since 2020. Yet, Wilson's uptick in production feels mostly irrelevant for a team that is 0-3 on the season and is fresh off a 50-point loss.
Teams don't ink their quarterback to a $242.58M extension like the Broncos did with Wilson last offseason to be non-competitive against high-end competition — regardless of how limited the roster is surrounding him. Ultimately, the 34-year-old Wilson looks destined to serve as the scapegoat for Denver's numerous shortcomings.
If Wilson is sent to the bench, Payton will hand the keys to his offense over to backup Jarrett Stidham.
“I think he’s a No. 2 whose arrow is moving in a direction where we feel like he can become an NFL starter in our league,” Payton said of Stidham at the NFL owners’ meetings in March.
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