The Denver Broncos’ decision to bench quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of backup Jarrett Stidham was a surprise.

However, the move was weeks in the making and a financial one that related to a clause in Wilson’s contract regarding a $37 million injury guarantee, according to a report from Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Broncos pushed back on that report, saying the decision was football-related with the hope of Stidham providing a spark to a sputtering offense.

The news of Wilson’s benching surfaced Wednesday, but the Broncos had conversations with Wilson on the subject following the team’s 24-9 Week 8 win over Kansas City, according to Schulz.

The Broncos threatened to bench Wilson for the remainder of the season if he did not defer the date for his injury guarantee for the 2025 season. Wilson’s contract includes a $37 million injury clause for 2025 that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2024 league year in March and is also guaranteed for injury.

According to the report, the Broncos’ demand “shocked” Wilson and led to a major disagreement on how to move forward. Wilson’s representatives, team management and the NFL Players Association got involved in negotiations that ended with the clause remaining in Wilson’s contract.

Denver coach Sean Payton said the move was made in an effort to get a win after the Broncos have gone 1-3 in their last four games.

“We’re desperately trying to get a win,” Payton told reporters Wednesday. “Sure, in our game today, there are economic and all those other things. But number one, the push behind this – and it’s a decision I’m making – is to get a spark offensively.”

The offense has ranked near the bottom tier of the NFL during the past four games and currently ranks 25th in total offense. Payton said he’s anxious to see what they have in Stidham.

“If I didn’t feel like he gave us a chance to win, we wouldn’t be making that move,” Payton told reporters.

Wilson, 35, has bounced back from an atrocious 2022 season to throw 26 touchdown passes and with just eight interceptions in 15 games in 2024, compared to 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 2022, his first year in Denver.

He expects to be cut during the offseason, according to a report by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Wilson, on Wednesday night, made his first public statements since news of his benching broke.

“God’s got me,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Looking forward to what’s next.”