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Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos backup QB faces similar situation as he did with Raiders in 2022

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 12/27/23

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is facing an almost identical situation in Week 17 as he did at this time last year.

It was reported Wednesday that Stidham will replace Russell Wilson under center in the team's New Year's Eve contest on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Stidham supplanted Derek Carr as QB1 with the Las Vegas Raiders in late December 2022 between Weeks 16 and 17 as well.

Some NFL insiders pointed to the financial ramifications with Wilson's contract and compared it to Carr's benching last season, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport ultimately called the switch to Stidham this time around as a "football decision."

Jarrett Stidham is the backup QB and there is plenty of promise there. The #Broncos would like to see what he has and coach Sean Payton has been clear the offense hasn't been good enough. https://t.co/VEoJjEpuSy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2023

While there is, of course, the financial component, this is different from Derek Carr last year. Russell Wilson will be the backup. But Jarrett Stidham starts.

This was a football decision. https://t.co/Uqk8qsH46u
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2023

Sean Payton has been open about his concerns with the offense and is looking for a spark. Now he'll get to see what Jarrett Stidham can do, with decisions on Russell Wilson's future still to come. https://t.co/OsD82JXDz8
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 27, 2023

As was the case with Carr, Stidham and the Raiders late in the 2022 campaign, the Broncos are facing long odds at making the playoffs.

At the time of Carr's benching last winter, Las Vegas was 6-9 and all but eliminated from contention. With head coach Sean Payton's decision to sit Wilson, Denver seems to be closing the door on the 2023 campaign.

The Broncos enter Week 17 at 7-8, having lost two in a row and three of their last four. The NFL.complayoff picture has Denver hanging on with only a 7% chance of making the playoffs.

Carr and Wilson join two other AFC signal-callers to be benched in the last two seasons with heavy potential financial impacts surrounding the decision.

The $37 million in 2025 @RapSheet speaks of is currently guaranteed for injury only. It becomes fully guaranteed in March. Hence the fear of having him play and suffer a catastrophic injury, causing the #Broncos to be on the hook for that money when they’re not currently. https://t.co/9pNpGWr6Q7
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 27, 2023

Russell Wilson is the fourth quarterback this has happened to....

The #Raiders benched Derek Carr.

The #Colts benched Matt Ryan.

The #Raiders benched Jimmy Garoppolo.

All four instances the player had an injury guarantee that would become fully-guaranteed if he can't pass a… https://t.co/gxrMsw5lnv
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 27, 2023

If this offseason the #Broncos part ways with Russell Wilson a post June 1 release would divide the $85 million in dead money over two seasons:
- $35.4 million in 2024
- $49.6 million in 2025
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 27, 2023

Denver acquired Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in March 2022 and agreed to a five-year contract extension that September. Carr signed a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in March.

Assuming Stidham is still at the top of the team's depth chart at the end of the season, he'll ironically return to Sin City in Week 18, when the Raiders host the Broncos on Jan. 7.

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