Poor Cooper Rush. The Dallas Cowboys’ backup quarterback unexpectedly played more than anticipated thanks to Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury, but Rush just missed out on a $250,000 bonus in Week 18. He has a contract incentive tied to his playing time and could have cashed in on that quarter-million by suiting up on Sunday versus the Washington Commanders, but Rush didn’t even play as Trey Lance was under center.
Thus, the Cowboys ended up saving $250,000, however, many other teams had to pony up thanks to player incentives. Week 18 is always a mad dash for players to reach certain statistical milestones, and here’s a look at some star players who cashed in during Week 18.
Sam Martin–$100,000
If unaware of who Martin is, he’s the Bills’ punter, and yes, punters get bonuses too. Martin came in with 24 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard-line on the season, needing just one more to trigger a $100,000 incentive with 25 downed punts inside the 20. He just missed on his first attempt as a bad bounce had it downed at the 24-yard-line, but he was money on his second attempt. Teammate Ja’Marcus Ingram was able to knock the ball back from bouncing into the endzone and it wound up at the 6-yard-line, meaning a payday for the punter.Calais Campbell–$300,000
A six-time Pro Bowler, the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year, and the oldest defensive player in the league, Sunday may have been Campbell’s final NFL game. He’d much rather his season end with a postseason appearance, but Campbell will have to settle for $300,000. He entered Week 18 with 4 sacks on the season, needing just one more to reach a $300,000 bonus. He barely appeared on the stat sheet in the first half of Miami’s loss to the Jets, but managed to take down Aaron Rodgers at the start of the third quarter to cash in.Courtland Sutton–$500,000
After already hitting separate $500,000 bonuses for reaching 500 and 750 receiving yards, Sutton entered in needed another 85 yards to reach 1,065 yards on the year. That would trigger another $500,000, and his first catch went for 47 yards, putting Sutton well on his way to seeing green. He’d finish with 98 yards on the day, and a non-monetary bonus is that Denver clinched a playoff spot with its win over the Chiefs.Von Miller–$1.5 million
The NFL’s active leader in sacks had already secured a $2.5 million bonus by reaching 5 sacks prior to Week 18. However, getting one more QB takedown would net Miller another $1.5 million, and he wasted little time in getting it. On just the third play of the game, Miller sacked Drake Maye of the Patriots to hit the incentive, and then he hit the bench. That was Miller’s final play of the game as Buffalo rested most of its starters with its playoff seeding locked up.Baker Mayfield–$2.5 million
Mayfield had five different incentives in his contract, each worth $500,000, and they were based on his end-of-season statistical rankings. They included being in the top five in passer rating, top 10 in completion percentage, top 10 in yards per attempt, top 10 in passing yards and top 10 in passing touchdowns.Check. Check. Check. Check. Check.
He may not be done earning, but the postseason will decide that. Mayfield also has another $2.5 million in bonuses in front of him depending on how far Tampa advances in the playoffs, including $500,000 for a Wild Card victory to $2.5 million for a Super Bowl win.
