Things are looking bad over in Broncos Country. With just two games left for the 2023 season to end, the 7-8 Denver Broncos want to cut their losses and start afresh the next season. Neither the playoffs are in sight, nor will they get a top-five draft pick next year. In such dire circumstances, Russell Wilson has been benched for the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Chargers. When they signed him from the Seattle Seahawks for a hefty $245 million five-year contract, they hoped he would turn things around for them. But the year he was signed, the Broncos went 5-12. Now, if they lose their final two games of the regular season, they will be 7-10.

Performance aside, what is the main reason for the quarterback getting benched just as he was showing signs of getting into form? With rumors looming that he will be cut in the next year, what does it mean for other players who do not enjoy the clout that Wilson does?

Will Russell Wilson be cut in the offseason?

As the plot around Wilson’s uncertain future with the Broncos thickened, Ian Rapoport took to X to share that the reason for benching Wilson could be to prevent him from playing the last two games of the season. If he injured himself in any of the games, his $37 million in 2025 salary could become vested. This is not without precedent. At the end of the 2022 season, the Las Vegas Raiders demoted quarterback Derek Carr, who had a similar injury guarantee as part of his contract. In what could eerily turn out to be true for Wilson as well, he was released in the following offseason.

The Athletic reported that Wilson knows of his coming fate and is expecting to be cut in March, and has known about it for two months. Now with benching Wilson, the Broncos have ensured that they will have greater flexibility when they decide to move on from him. Some fans had already been calling for him to be axed when the Broncos lost five of their starting six games. But then he went on to win against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills on prime time and faith was restored in him.

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How the entire situation was handled raises questions about how safe players can feel about their future in the NFL. If a player with the stature of Wilson can be cut so easily, what chance do other players stand?

Will Wilson’s case set a precedent for future players?

The average length of an NFL player is three years. Even though players sign contracts that span years, they can be cut for the most capricious reasons. Safety Troy Vincent replaced Adam Archuleta who signed a six-year deal with the Washington Commanders towards the end of his debut season and then cut in the following season. Tight end David Boston had signed a seven-year contract with the Chargers, but was cut by his team citing his “moody personality and antics“.

Wilson was asked to remove his injury clause way back in October, but he refused to do so. It is like the former New England Patriots WR Ocho described the NFL, “Everybody is expendable.” He gave the example of Randy Moss and how, despite a stellar season with the Minnesota Vikings, they traded him off to the Tennessee Titans following a contract dispute.

If the league and teams continue to treat players with callousness, can players expect their future to be safe after they are done with professional football?

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports. 

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