Broncos open to Russell Wilson's return but say no call made yet - ESPN

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner, general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton all left the door open Tuesday for Russell Wilson to return in 2024, but the three also said no decision has yet been made on the quarterback's future.

The three spoke Tuesday, two days after the Broncos closed out an 8-9 season with a 27-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Allegiant Stadium. It was the eighth consecutive playoff miss for the team and the seventh consecutive losing season.

Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the season — Jarrett Stidham started both. Wilson had said he was asked to make an adjustment to his contract earlier in the season and told he would be benched if he did not.

Payton said that he met with Wilson for 30 minutes Monday and a scenario where Wilson would return was among the topics discussed but also that any decision would be made in a timely fashion.

«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,» Payton said. «As soon as we know something certainly, he would be the first to know.»

Later, Payton was asked whether the discussion did formally include a path where Wilson returns.

«Yeah, listen, otherwise it would have been like 'hey, goodbye,'» Payton said. "… 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."

Many in the league expect the Broncos to release Wilson in the coming weeks, which carries hefty salary cap implications for the team. It would also leave the starting quarterback job open once again. But Penner and Paton echoed the return scenario Tuesday and