Russell Wilson says he was ‘disappointed’ Denver Broncos benched him for refusing contract change

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson says he was “disappointed and surprised” when head coach Sean Payton told him he would be benched for the team’s final two games of the NFL regular season.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson says he was “disappointed and surprised” when head coach Sean Payton told him he would be benched for the team’s final two games of the NFL regular season. “I felt like we were doing something special and rolling,” said Wilson, speaking on Friday for the first time with the media since being benched. “Obviously, we’ve had some tough games, some tough close ones, but we’ve still got a chance. At the end of the day, what God’s got for me, I’m going to keep trusting in him. “I’m going to keep putting my best foot forward every day and be as professional as I can be, no matter what the circumstances are. I learned that a long time ago,” added the 35 year-old quarterback. Wilson signed a five-year extension worth a reported $245 million in September 2022, which is set to kick in next season. According to ESPN, Wilson is “guaranteed $39 million in 2024 whether he is on the team or not,” as well as “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.”