During warmups on Wednesday, Broncos coach Sean Payton approached his quarterbacks, Denver’s unorthodox quarterback competition came to an abrupt end when he told them rookie Bo Nix had won the starting job.
Regarding the sixth quarterback chosen in the 2024 NFL draft—out of Oregon—and the 12th overall pick, Payton observed, “He smiled.” “That was it; we were just getting ready for practice. We didn’t have cake, candles, or anything similar, you know.
When Payton gathered his teammates after practice, he didn’t even break the news to them.
Payton stated, “I haven’t told the rest of the team yet.” “Because I won’t hold meetings with the other members of the team to discuss each of these other positions.”
Besides, “they’ve kind of seen this coming,” he stated.
Six of the seven drives Nix has led the Broncos to in the preseason have resulted in touchdowns, and he has been statistically among the league’s finest quarterbacks this month. Nix started an NCAA QB record 61 times at Oregon and Auburn.
According to Payton, one of his goals for the coming year was to improve his rapport with the local media, thus he took care to ensure that no one in the national media was informed of his choice.
Before stepping up to the platform, he did, however, inform the about fifty local military personnel taking part in “USAA’s Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp” of his decision, stating that he had to go introduce Nix as his starter.
Although Payton did not talk about his plans to start at quarterback for Sunday’s exhibition game against Arizona, it is likely that the two veterans he defeated will split the workload.
Since Nix isn’t a showy person, he didn’t find it offensive when he was told he would be the Broncos’ first rookie quarterback to start since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
Yes, he approached and announced that he will be telling you everything about it this afternoon in the media.
Nix recalled, “(So) let’s have a good practice.”
And Nix carried it out.
Nix remarked, “We all attacked every day like we were the starters.” “Therefore, if you have that mindset, it shouldn’t change much when they tell you that you’re the starter because you’ve been practicing and it’s become a daily habit.”
Nix acknowledged the two veterans he defeated: Jarrett Stidham, who was Denver’s incumbent due to his two starts at the conclusion of the previous season when Payton benched Russell Wilson, and Zach Wilson, the Jets’ second-round choice in the 2021 draft.
Zach Wilson had by far the strongest arm strength of the three, while Stidham, in his second year in Payton’s system, had a fast start in the quarterback competition in July. However, Nix quickly adjusted and caught up, and last week in a combined practice with the Green Bay Packers and the Colts, he performed admirably.
During the preseason, Nix has completed 77% of his attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 116.7.
