The Denver Broncos are leaving the door open for Russell Wilson to return in 2024.
Broncos owner Greg Penner, general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton all spoke to the media on Tuesday.
Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the season. The quarterback had said he was asked to make an adjustment to his contract earlier in the season and was told he would be benched if he did not.
Payton said that he met with Wilson for 30 minutes Monday and a scenario where Wilson would return was among the topics discussed but also that any decision would be made in a timely fashion.
\"I told him, \'Look, I don\'t think it\'s going to be a long, drawn-out process,\' but it hasn\'t been decided relative to what our plans are,\" Payton said. \"As soon as we know something certainly, he would be the first to know.\"
Later, Payton was asked whether the discussion did formally include a path where Wilson returns.
\"Yeah, listen, otherwise it would have been like \'hey, goodbye,\'\" Payton said. \"... We\'ll look at all the scenarios and try to do what\'s best for the Broncos. But communication will be important, and, yeah, that final decision hasn\'t been made.\"
Denver has missed the playoffs in eight straight seasons.