Panthers' Dave Canales on Russell Wilson: 'This is Not the Situation' for Broncos QB

With his release from the Denver Broncos looming, there was some speculation that Russell Wilson could land with the Carolina Panthers this offseason thanks to his history with the team's new head coach Dave Canales. However, it sounds like that won't be the case.

When asked about the possibility of reuniting with Wilson in Carolina, Canales told Kay Adams, "This is not the situation for Russ."

Canales was a member of the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff from 2010 to 2022, coinciding with Wilson's tenure with the team from 2012 to 2021. He spent a few years as the team's quarterbacks coach, where he developed a close relationship with Wilson.

"What I will say about him is, taking that chance and that opportunity to go to Denver, I really admire him for that," Canales said. "I really admire the courage it took to say 'I'm gonna branch out away from what I'm comfortable with," and certainly guys like me who was with him for all 10 years, and the level of comfort that comes from like I know exactly what he wants, what he needs, what he's gonna ask for. I can anticipate those things, and he really gambled on himself to go and try to do something a different way to see what that can become. And what it's become, hey, the film's out there, but I really credit him for that."

Wilson was traded from the Seahawks to the Broncos ahead of the 2022 season and signed a five-year, $245 million extension upon his arrival. Unfortunately, things didn't play out the way either side had hoped, and Denver chose to cut ties with the 35-year-old this week. The team will be taking on an NFL-record $85 million in dead money by releasing Wilson.

Canales is taking over a Panthers team that had the worst record in the NFL last season at 2-15. 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young struggled during his rookie season, so Canales has a lot of work to do in his first taste of being a head coach.