With offense subpar, Broncos will bench Wilson, use Stidham

The Denver Broncos are benching Russell Wilson in favor of backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported Wednesday.

While that report indicates a performance move, reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk said the Broncos are giving serious thought to shutting Wilson down for the final two games to avoid injury.

At issue is Wilson’s long-term future with the Broncos, given his massive contract and mediocre results.

Wilson has a $37 million injury guarantee for 2025 that vests in March and would become unavoidable if Wilson suffered an injury in these last two games and failed a physical, per the reports.

The Broncos (7-8) are hanging on to extremely slim playoff hopes, currently the 12th seed in the AFC. They have lost three of their past four games after a five-game winning streak thrust them back into the playoff chase.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that the offense wasn’t close to being “good enough” under Wilson.

“So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton told reporters. “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication.”

Wilson, 35, has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions in 15 starts this season.

Stidham, 27, has appeared in one game this season, mop-up duty in the Broncos’ 42-17 loss at Detroit on Dec. 16. He went 0-2 for Las Vegas last season in his only two NFL starts.

ELSEWHERE

Cardinals: Defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter will miss the final two games of the season with a knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss at Chicago. Ledbetter, 26, posted career highs this season in starts (12), sacks (1A 1/2), quarterback hits (four) and tackles (46).

Commanders: Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start for host Washington on Sunday against San Francisco, coach Ron Rivera said.

Brissett replaced Sam Howell in each of the last two games, road losses to the L.A. Rams and N.Y. Jets that extended Washington’s losing streak to six games.

“It’s a good opportunity for Sam to take a break,” Rivera said. “Jacoby’s proven that he’s a very, very viable player in this league.”

Including the 2022 season finale, Howell has started 16 consecutive games for the Commanders. The 2022 fifth-round pick ranks 11th in the NFL this season in passing yards (3,624) but has offset his 19 touchdown passes with a league-high 17 interceptions — including four pick-sixes. He has also been sacked a leaguehigh 60 times.

Brissett, who started 11 games last season for Cleveland, has completed 18 of 23 passes for 224 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in three games this season.

49ers: The team signed defensive tackle

Sebastian Joseph-Day, who was released last week by the Los Angeles Chargers. Joseph-Day, 28, started all 14 games of the season before being waived. He had 31 tackles

For summaries, complete standings, scores go to the eEdition at MiamiHerald.com.

East

x-Miami Buffalo e-N.Y. Jets e-New England South

Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville e-Tennessee North

x-Baltimore Cleveland Cincinnati Pittsburgh West

Kansas City

Las Vegas Denver e-L.A. Chargers

East

x-Phila. x-Dallas e-N.Y. Giants e-Washington South

Tampa Bay New Orleans Atlanta e-Carolina North

y-Detroit Minnesota Green Bay Chicago West

y-San Fran. L.A. Rams Seattle e-Arizona

11 4 0 .733 463 314 9 6 0 .600 403 276 6 9 0 .400 231 315 411 0 .267 212 322 W L T Pct PF PA

8 7 0 .533 328 331 8 7 0 .533 354 372 8 7 0 .533 331 343 510 0 .333 274 321 W L T Pct PF PA

12 3 0 .800 417 244 10 5 0 .667 345 311 8 7 0 .533 318 345 8 7 0 .533 257 291 W L T Pct PF PA

9 6 7 8 7 8 510

0 .600 333 265 0 .467 285 294 0 .467 327 377 0 .333 325 369

W L T

Pct PF PA

11 4 0 .733 392 366 10 5 0 .667 451 286 510 0 .333 214 371 411 0 .267 309 453 W L T Pct PF PA

8 7 0 .533 326 302 7 8 0 .467 331 297 7 8 0 .467 287 288 213 0 .133 236 381 W L T Pct PF PA

11 4 0 .733 412 355 7 8 0 .467 314 299 7 8 0 .467 333 331 6 9 0 .400 314 345 W L T Pct PF PA

11 4 8 7 8 7 312

0 .733 444 267 0 .533 357 332 0 .533 320 352 0 .200 275 403

x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division; e-eliminated from playoffs

WEEK 17

THURSDAY

N.Y. Jets at Cleveland, 8:15 (Prime)

SATURDAY

Detroit at Dallas, 8:15 (ABC, ESPN)

SUNDAY

Miami at Baltimore, 1 (CBS)

New England at Buffalo, 1

Atlanta at Chicago, 1

Las Vegas at Indianapolis, 1

L.A. Rams at N.Y. Giants, 1

Arizona at Philadelphia, 1

New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1

San Francisco at Washington, 1

Carolina at Jacksonville, 1

Tennessee at Houston, 1

Pittsburgh at Seattle, 4:05 (FOX)

L.A. Chargers at Denver, 4:25

Cincinnati at Kansas City, 4:25 (CBS) Green Bay at Minnesota, 8:20 (NBC) (three for loss) and three sacks, tying a career high.

Giants: Coach Brian Daboll, who benched

Tommy DeVito for veteran Tyrod Taylor at halftime of Monday’s 33-25 loss at Philadelphia, said he will stick with Taylor for Sunday’s home game against the L.A. Rams.

DeVito completed 9 of 16 passes for just 55 yards prior to his exit. Taylor completed 7 of 16 passes for 133 yards, one score and an interception. Taylor also ran for 21 yards and the Giants nearly erased a 17-point deficit.

DeVito, an undrafted rookie, has started the last six games following injuries to Daniel Jones and Taylor. DeVito is 3-3 as a starter and this season has eight TD passes and three interceptions.

Texans: Quarterback

C.J. Stroud was cleared to practice Wednesday after missing the last two games while in concussion protocol. The Texans, one of three 8-7 teams at the top of the AFC South, host 5-10 Tennessee on Sunday . ... The Texans claimed veteran safety

Kareem Jackson off waivers Tuesday and put safety Jimmie Ward (quadriceps) on injured reserve. Jackson, 36, spent his first nine seasons with Houston before joining Denver in 2019. The Broncos released him Monday after the NFL suspended him twice this season (for a total of six games) for unnecessary roughness. He is now eligible to play.

Vikings: Tight end

T.J. Hockenson has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with

ACL and MCL injuries. Edge rusher D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) also is out for the season. Both will have surgery.

In his first full season with the Vikings, Hockenson, 26, caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns. He played his first 31⁄2 season with Detroit.