ESPN: Broncos QB Russell Wilson just announced his departure in…

The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

While that report indicates a performance move, dueling reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said on Wednesday that the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury, given his contract situation.

Regardless, Stidham draws the start under circumstances that are similar to a year ago, when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders, who opted to bench starter Derek Carr under a similar premise.

At issue is Wilson’s long-term future with the Broncos, given his massive contract and mediocre results.

Wilson has a $37m injury guarantee for 2025 that vests in March and would become unavoidable if Wilson sustained an injury in these last two games and failed a physical. That was the same scenario last year for Carr and the Raiders, who traded the quarterback in the offseason to New Orleans.

Denver would owe $37m more to Wilson in cash and a record $85m in dead money – the cost of which will likely be spread over two years – if they cut Wilson, an unprecedented sum.

The Broncos (7-8) are hanging on to extremely slim playoff hopes, currently the 12th seed in the AFC. They have lost three of their past four games after a five-game winning streak thrust them back into the playoff chase. Denver has a 6% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times’ playoff scenarios.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that the offense wasn’t close to being “good enough” under Wilson. “So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton told reporters on Tuesday. “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication. That might be having to reduce – is there too much in? Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough.”

Wilson, 35, has completed 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season. He has failed to be the quarterback for the Broncos that he was in Seattle, where he went 104-53-1 as the starter, throwing for 37,059 yards and making nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons.

Stidham, 27, has appeared in one game this season, mop-up duty in the Broncos’ 42-17 loss at Detroit on 16 December. He went 0-2 starting for Carr last year in his only two NFL starts. He has thrown for 926 yards and six touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Reuters contributed reporting

Well, 2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.

Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …

But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.

So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. The average monthly support in Nigeria is around $4, however much you give, all that matters is you’re choosing to support open, independent journalism.

With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.

Happy new year!

The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

While that report indicates a performance move, dueling reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said on Wednesday that the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury, given his contract situation.

Regardless, Stidham draws the start under circumstances that are similar to a year ago, when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders, who opted to bench starter Derek Carr under a similar premise.

At issue is Wilson’s long-term future with the Broncos, given his massive contract and mediocre results.

Wilson has a $37m injury guarantee for 2025 that vests in March and would become unavoidable if Wilson sustained an injury in these last two games and failed a physical. That was the same scenario last year for Carr and the Raiders, who traded the quarterback in the offseason to New Orleans.

Denver would owe $37m more to Wilson in cash and a record $85m in dead money – the cost of which will likely be spread over two years – if they cut Wilson, an unprecedented sum.

The Broncos (7-8) are hanging on to extremely slim playoff hopes, currently the 12th seed in the AFC. They have lost three of their past four games after a five-game winning streak thrust them back into the playoff chase. Denver has a 6% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times’ playoff scenarios.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that the offense wasn’t close to being “good enough” under Wilson. “So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton told reporters on Tuesday. “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication. That might be having to reduce – is there too much in? Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough.”

Wilson, 35, has completed 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season. He has failed to be the quarterback for the Broncos that he was in Seattle, where he went 104-53-1 as the starter, throwing for 37,059 yards and making nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons.

Stidham, 27, has appeared in one game this season, mop-up duty in the Broncos’ 42-17 loss at Detroit on 16 December. He went 0-2 starting for Carr last year in his only two NFL starts. He has thrown for 926 yards and six touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Reuters contributed reporting

Well, 2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.

Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …

But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.

So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. The average monthly support in Nigeria is around $4, however much you give, all that matters is you’re choosing to support open, independent journalism.

With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.

Happy new year!

The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

While that report indicates a performance move, dueling reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said on Wednesday that the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury, given his contract situation.

Regardless, Stidham draws the start under circumstances that are similar to a year ago, when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders, who opted to bench starter Derek Carr under a similar premise.

At issue is Wilson’s long-term future with the Broncos, given his massive contract and mediocre results.

Wilson has a $37m injury guarantee for 2025 that vests in March and would become unavoidable if Wilson sustained an injury in these last two games and failed a physical. That was the same scenario last year for Carr and the Raiders, who traded the quarterback in the offseason to New Orleans.

Denver would owe $37m more to Wilson in cash and a record $85m in dead money – the cost of which will likely be spread over two years – if they cut Wilson, an unprecedented sum.

The Broncos (7-8) are hanging on to extremely slim playoff hopes, currently the 12th seed in the AFC. They have lost three of their past four games after a five-game winning streak thrust them back into the playoff chase. Denver has a 6% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times’ playoff scenarios.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that the offense wasn’t close to being “good enough” under Wilson. “So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton told reporters on Tuesday. “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication. That might be having to reduce – is there too much in? Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough.”

Wilson, 35, has completed 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season. He has failed to be the quarterback for the Broncos that he was in Seattle, where he went 104-53-1 as the starter, throwing for 37,059 yards and making nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons.

Stidham, 27, has appeared in one game this season, mop-up duty in the Broncos’ 42-17 loss at Detroit on 16 December. He went 0-2 starting for Carr last year in his only two NFL starts. He has thrown for 926 yards and six touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Reuters contributed reporting

Well, 2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.

Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …

But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.

So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. The average monthly support in Nigeria is around $4, however much you give, all that matters is you’re choosing to support open, independent journalism.

With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.

Happy new year!

The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham this week against the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

While that report indicates a performance move, dueling reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said on Wednesday that the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury, given his contract situation.

Regardless, Stidham draws the start under circumstances that are similar to a year ago, when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders, who opted to bench starter Derek Carr under a similar premise.

At issue is Wilson’s long-term future with the Broncos, given his massive contract and mediocre results.

Wilson has a $37m injury guarantee for 2025 that vests in March and would become unavoidable if Wilson sustained an injury in these last two games and failed a physical. That was the same scenario last year for Carr and the Raiders, who traded the quarterback in the offseason to New Orleans.

Denver would owe $37m more to Wilson in cash and a record $85m in dead money – the cost of which will likely be spread over two years – if they cut Wilson, an unprecedented sum.

The Broncos (7-8) are hanging on to extremely slim playoff hopes, currently the 12th seed in the AFC. They have lost three of their past four games after a five-game winning streak thrust them back into the playoff chase. Denver has a 6% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times’ playoff scenarios.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that the offense wasn’t close to being “good enough” under Wilson. “So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton told reporters on Tuesday. “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication. That might be having to reduce – is there too much in? Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough.”

Wilson, 35, has completed 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season. He has failed to be the quarterback for the Broncos that he was in Seattle, where he went 104-53-1 as the starter, throwing for 37,059 yards and making nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons.

Stidham, 27, has appeared in one game this season, mop-up duty in the Broncos’ 42-17 loss at Detroit on 16 December. He went 0-2 starting for Carr last year in his only two NFL starts. He has thrown for 926 yards and six touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Reuters contributed reporting

Well, 2023 didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?
Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.

Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …

But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.

So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. The average monthly support in Nigeria is around $4, however much you give, all that matters is you’re choosing to support open, independent journalism.

With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.

Happy new year!