Broncos' Russell Wilson to Back Up Jarrett Stidham vs. Chargers After Benching

There is a chance Denver Broncos fans could see quarterback Russell Wilson back on the field before the 2023 season is over.

Wilson will back up starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday's regular-season home finale, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Wednesday announced Wilson would be benched for the rest of the season, although Fowler reports he will not be listed as inactive.

Wilson had led the Broncos to a 7-8 record with 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions through 15 starts prior to Payton's decision.

That averages out to just 204.7 passing yards per game, Wilson's lowest since his 2012 rookie season.

The Broncos have some incentive to keep Wilson off the field in order to ensure he stays healthy. The team is currently on the hook to pay Wilson $37 million in March, but that only becomes fully guaranteed if he is injured, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

On the other hand, Payton's team still has incentive to do whatever they can to win. Although chances are slim, routes to the postseason still exist for the 7-8 Broncos. One possible path involves Denver winning out while the 9-6 Kansas City Chiefs lose their remaining games, allowing the Broncos to claw their way to the top of the AFC West.

Stidham has just one appearance so far this season after taking four offensive snaps against the Detroit Lions in Week 14. He has made two career starts, both for the Las Vegas Raiders as they lost out to miss the playoffs in 2022.

The Broncos' other option for a backup is Ben DiNucci, the former XFL player cut from the 53-man roster prior to the season, who has served as practice squad quarterback since. DiNucci also has limited NFL experience, with just three games on his resume, all with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

The Broncos are going with a veteran backup presence by keeping Wilson active instead, even if it now seems inevitable the veteran quarterback will not be in Denver by the time his March guarantee rolls around.