Former Tennessee OL Ja'Wuan James' $10 million salary at risk after suffering injury during workout
Former Tennessee OL Ja’Wuan James was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, going to the Miami Dolphins.
He spent the 2014-2018 seasons with the Dolphins, then signed with the Denver Broncos prior to the 2019 season. He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, his 2021 season seems to be over before it has a chance to get started. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, James suffered a torn Achilles on Tuesday during a workout.
And, Schefter adds, since James was working out away from the team facility when he suffered the injury, the Broncos are no longer obligated to pay him his $10 million salary for this season:
Broncos' OT Ja'Wuan James suffered a season-ending torn Achilles working out today away from the team facility, per sources. James' $10 million salary for the upcoming season now is in jeopardy being that Denver no longer is obligated to pay him with him working out off site.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 4, 2021
That is obviously a really tough break for James. We’ll see what the Broncos decide to do with his salary moving forward.
Bummer. Seems like a twisted rule.
I think they should still pay the man. He wasn’t out dancing or fighting or doing dope. He was working out!!!! Probably some place he felt safer for whatever reason. It’s not like 10 million is going to break the team. It might very well save the team twice that in fans if they pay him. That would show kindness.
PS. If they don’t. It could result in a bunch of angry protest. You know how that works!!!!
Negan
Last year had the highest rate of Achilles injuries than I ever remember seeing. I think it was the lack of workouts. The players of course wanted the workouts cut back. I think it will be to their detriment.
agreed. I wonder why. Even the Braves have the same prob with Soroka
It is normal to want to work less for the money you make. But I think they do not have their ligaments, and tendons stretched and ready with the reduced workouts. A lot of players paid a high price if that was the cause.
Shame on the Broncos. Pay the man
You cut him and you can sign another player for 5 million a year. You pay him and it goes against your cap.
NFL football is a business, a very big busine$$. Whether he is paid of not paid depends upon what the coaches and GM feel his true impact on the team is. Sometimes the NFL can be a cruel busine$$ whether we like it or not.
This will mean that he will have played three games in three years after signing a four year $51 million contract. They should probably just cut him and use that money to sign someone who can actually play.
“Opted out” doesn’t look like a good decision now. Did the layoff have anything to do with the injury? So many what if’s. But; opting out when you are in your prime isn’t a good plan, especially since the League finished the season pretty well. People got bad advice; bought into the fear. Sad.