Russ is done in Denver — Broncos say they’ll cut Wilson

The Denver Broncos told Russell Wilson on Monday that they’re going to release him next week, less than two years after Denver acquired the quarterback in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

We have two big questions now with Russell Wilson cut by Broncos

The Broncos released a statement Monday from general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton announcing that the team has notified Wilson he will be released when the new NFL league year begins next Wednesday, March 13.

We’ve notified QB Russell Wilson that he will be released after the league year begins March 13.

A statement from GM George Paton and HC Sean Payton: pic.twitter.com/EJO5mNMjew

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 4, 2024

The news comes just 18 months after Denver signed Wilson to a five-year, $242 million contract extension.

Wilson released a statement of his own shortly after the Broncos did, thanking Denver fans and saying that he’s “excited for what’s next.”

Thank You Broncos Country 🙏🏾 – #3 pic.twitter.com/3IoVheYVyI

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 4, 2024

For a Broncos view on this breaking news, click the link below for an article from Denver Sports, a sister media outlet of Seattle Sports.

From Denver Sports: Broncos cook Russell Wilson, cut QB after he burned Denver

The Broncos still owe Wilson his $39 million salary for 2024 minus whatever he’d sign for with another team, which would likely be the veteran’s minimum salary of $1.21 million.

One potential landing spot is Pittsburgh. The Steelers are set to visit Denver next season.

The Broncos also will take a record $89 million hit in dead cap charges over the next two seasons.

Wilson enjoyed a bounce-back year last season in Payton’s first year as Broncos coach, throwing for 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 15 games.

But it wasn’t good enough and Payton benched him for Jarrett Stidham for the final two games. Stidham went 1-1 and the Broncos finished 8-9, their seventh straight losing season and their eighth in a row outside the playoffs.

Payton hinted at an impending split at the NFL scouting combine last week when talking about Denver’s long string of middling quarterbacks and suggested his job was to make sure “the next one” was the right QB to lead the Broncos back into contention.

Wilson, who had gone radio silent on social media at Payton’s request a year ago, resumed sharing videos of his workouts and over the weekend he removed all Broncos references from his profile on X (formerly Twitter).

Wilson was acquired in 2022 from the Seattle Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl title after the 2013 season, for a bevy of draft picks (two first-rounders and two seconds) and players (Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris).

From January: Pete Carroll details reunion with Russell Wilson

He signed a nearly quarter-billion dollar extension before playing a single down in Denver and then went 4-11 in his first season under coach Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired after 15 games.

Payton had Wilson dial back his social media presence a year ago and a focused and fit Wilson showed up to training camp 20 pounds lighter.

He went 7-8 before being benched. Wilson contended the Broncos had threatened to bench him for the final nine games if he didn’t push back his $37 million injury guarantee in his contract.

He declined to adjust his contract and started seven more games before getting benched in what Payton insisted was a football move, not a financial one.

Wilson’s $37 million salary for 2025 would have become guaranteed if he were still on Denver’s roster on March 13, the start of the league’s new year.

Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.

What Russell Wilson said about his situation in Denver on podcast