Russell Wilson -- Broncos told me to adjust contract or be benched - ESPN

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Russell Wilson said that in the days after he helped orchestrate the Denver Broncos' first win over the Kansas City Chiefs since 2015, team officials approached him to adjust a salary guarantee in his contract, and if he didn't, he would be «benched for the rest of the year.''

Coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday that Wilson lost his starting job in favor of Jarrett Stidham for Sunday's home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Payton has said it was strictly a decision based „on winning“ and „to get a spark offensively.“

But Wilson said Friday the Broncos approached him about waiving a guarantee in the five-year, $242.6 million contract he signed in 2022 that would give the veteran quarterback, who already is guaranteed $39 million in 2024 whether he is on the team or not, another $37 million (his 2025 salary) guaranteed if he could not pass a physical on the fifth day of the new league year in March.

Team sources have said they hoped to adjust the timing of that guarantee.

Speaking Friday, Wilson said the team's decision-makers told him on „the Monday or Tuesday“ after the Broncos' Oct. 29 win over the Chiefs that they would bench him if he didn't adjust that $37 million guarantee.

»They definitely told me I was going to be benched and all that," Wilson said. «That whole bye week I didn't know what was going to be the case. I was going to be ready to play, I wanted to go to Buffalo and beat Buffalo [Nov. 13].… I wasn't going to remove the injury guarantee, this game is such a physical game, I've played 12 years and all that.

»I want to be able to play, I want to be able to help this team win.… I know every time I step on the field it's a physical game. I never play timid; I never play scared."

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