Bo Nix was staring at a quick end to his debut drive with the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
The rookie quarterback entered the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts late in the first quarter and fired incomplete on his first two passes, setting up a third-and-10 near midfield. Just after the snap, Nix appeared to be in trouble as pressure arrived from the right side. But if his first two throws showcased some understandable nerves for a player making his professional debut, the third showcased many of the traits that made him an appealing choice for the Broncos’ with the No. 12 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.
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Nix scooted to his left, bought enough time to turn his shoulders, fired a pass across his body and hit Courtland Sutton for a 22-yard gain. In one play, the 24-year-old rookie showcased the combination of poise, athleticism and arm strength that helped Broncos decision-makers become enamored with him during the pre-draft process. More importantly, the play seemed to center the rookie quarterback after his nervy start.
“It’s always good when you look up and see an open guy,” Nix said. “It’s just about getting it to him from there.”
On the move. Across his body.
Bo Nix shows off the arm for the first down 💪
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/pJVU9V0XwE— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
From that moment, Nix looked like a starting NFL quarterback during Denver’s 34-30 victory. If he keeps building on what he showed Sunday, that’s exactly what Nix will be when the Broncos open the season in Seattle on Sept. 8.
Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards Sunday across five drives. Four of those ended in scores (two touchdowns, two field goals), including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. in the second quarter.
Bo Nix ➕6️⃣
The 12th overall pick finds Marvin Mims Jr. for the @Broncos first TD of preseason!
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8CTfxfIP7Y— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
The only drive by Nix that didn’t go anywhere came late in the second quarter when tight end Lucas Krull fumbled after making a clean catch. The Broncos got a second chance at a two-minute drive after Keidron Smith intercepted a Sam Ehlinger throw on the first play of the Colts’ next possession. Nix took advantage, pushing the Broncos 75 yards in just 75 seconds — a 34-yard pass-interference penalty helped — to lead the offense to a go-ahead field goal.
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“I liked the tempo and the timing of how we were releasing it,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters afterward. “I was pleased with what we were doing throwing the ball.”
It wasn’t a perfect performance from Nix. The first of his misfires to start the game was nearly intercepted. He and DeVaughn Vele had an apparent miscommunication as the Broncos moved into the red zone on the final drive, resulting in an incomplete pass in the end zone. There was also a fumbled exchange between the quarterback and center Luke Wattenberg during their first drive together.
But there was plenty more to be encouraged about when Nix’s day was done. He displayed the kind of accuracy you’d hope to see out of a quarterback who completed a record 77.4 percent of his passes at Oregon last season. One of his best throws was an incompletion, a go route for Josh Reynolds in the end zone that appeared to sail through the receiver’s hands. Nix moved the offense with tempo, rarely racing the play clock. The rookie recognized pressure and mitigated it with a quick release or by maneuvering around and out of the pocket. His legs will be an asset for Payton the play-caller, who has often included the quarterback in the running game when that quarterback’s name hasn’t been Drew Brees. Nix wasn’t sacked and Denver didn’t give up a takedown at all in the game.
“That was big,” said Payton, who has consistently pointed to taking fewer sacks as one of the biggest priorities for the offense this season.
Bo Nix gets to the sticks ➡️
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/UIcf6a0D94— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
It was just a start. Game plans tailored specifically to combat the rookie quarterback are coming. He’ll have to make a living solely against first-team defenses. None of that changes the fact Nix checked a lot of boxes Sunday.
“I felt very calm and relaxed back there,” the rookie QB said. “It’s just a game. They were still in Cover 3 and quarters and man. It’s the same defense. You’ve just got to figure out which one they’re in and then execute the play that’s called.”
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Nix will start next week’s game at home against Green Bay. If he builds on the performance he put together in Indianapolis, the starting title will become permanent.
Here are some other takeaways from the preseason opener:
Stidham done no favors by offense
Veteran Jarrett Stidham started for the Broncos and guided their first two drives. His final numbers — 4-of-7 for 37 yards and one interception — weren’t a clear illustration of his performance. Stidham completed his first two passes for a total of 27 yards, quickly moving the Broncos to the edge of scoring territory. But the unit committed three penalties — two false starts and a taunting infraction on Tim Patrick — after that, forcing a punt. On Stidham’s second drive, he hit running back Samaje Perine down the sideline for what should have been a big gain, but Perine bobbled the pass and it landed in the arms of Kenny Moore II for an interception.
TIP DRILL 🚨
Kenny Moore II comes down with the INT!
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gfRHTapI0K— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
In total, the Broncos committed four penalties and a turnover during Stidham’s two drives, making forward momentum virtually impossible.
“Obviously, we have to clean up the penalties,” Stidham said.
The miscues had to be frustrating for Stidham, who tallied seven pass attempts to Nix’s 25, played 11 snaps to Nix’s 36, and piloted two drives to the rookie’s five. Stidham could see a larger share of reps in next week’s game against the Packers, but it will be Nix who starts that game. This was possibly Stidham’s best chance to make a significant case in the quarterback race. He didn’t separate himself, but much of that was out of his control.
“That’s part of the preseason. Everyone is going to get a crack at it,” said Stidham, who said he expected to have a short outing Sunday. “I thought we did some pretty good things. We just need to clean up the penalties and get better from it.”
The Broncos largely fixed the penalty issue after the first two series, but they committed two more costly turnovers: the Krull fumble and a fumble by rookie running back Audric Estimé in the third quarter that was returned for a touchdown by Colts cornerback Micah Abraham.
FUMBLE!
The @Colts defense forces a late first-half turnover.
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1m4mPe84Cy— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
When the Broncos weren’t turning the ball over, they were scoring. QB Zach Wilson led the third-team offense to two touchdown drives in the second half. Both ended in touchdown runs: an 11-yard sprint by Tyler Badie and a 6-yard run by undrafted rookie Blake Watson. Wilson also converted a fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory. Payton will lament the early penalties and the turnovers, but the situational execution was promising. The Broncos finished 7-of-13 on third down; 2-of-2 on fourth down; 4-of-6 in the red zone; and 3-of-4 in goal-to-goal drives.
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“Overall, I thought we did a good job taking care of those opportunities,” Payton said.
Wilson finished 10-of-13 passing for 117 yards.
Rookie highlights
Jonah Elliss, the third-round pick out of Utah, delivered a strong debut. His pressure on Sam Ehlinger late in the second quarter forced a wayward pass by the quarterback that was intercepted by Keidron Smith. The play gave the Broncos a second chance at a hurry-up drive, which they turned into a field goal.
Annnnd the @Broncos get it right back with an INT!
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3muHIVFnyW— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
Earlier in the second quarter, Elliss showed side-to-side speed in tackling wide receiver Tyler Goodson near the sideline. On the next play, he applied pressure on Joe Flacco on third down in the red zone, forcing an incomplete pass that made Indianapolis settle for a field goal. Elliss’ progress is an important subplot for an outside linebacker group that is currently without Nik Bonitto, who is nursing a back injury and didn’t play Sunday.
Estimé’s fumble will be a teaching point. He had the ball held high as he made a run to the right side, allowing Abraham to rip it away and run the other way for the touchdown. But the fifth-round pick also had nice moments. He ran for 31 yards on 10 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He also caught three passes for 13 yards.
Audric Estimé finds pay dirt for the @Broncos!
📺: #DENvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0JAPIxucco— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
Vele drew two offensive pass-interference penalties that helped extend Broncos scoring drives in the first half. Denver quarterbacks have shown a lot of trust in the rookie wide receiver in training camp, often targeting him in jump-ball situations downfield. Vele showed a veteran’s savvy on one of those plays late in the second quarter, coming back for a Nix pass through contact on the two-minute drive to draw a 34-yard penalty.
“Every day he’s making plays,” Stidham said. “He doesn’t say much. He’s calm and he’s quiet, but he goes out there and makes plays.”
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Kris Abrams-Draine, the fifth-round cornerback out of Missouri, spoiled a critical 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter when he jumped in front of a pass by Colts quarterback Jason Bean for an interception. The play kept Denver’s lead at four points.
Payton harped more than once on the fumbles by Estimé and Watson, but his initial evaluation of the rookie group’s first outing Sunday was a positive one.
“Man, they all show that they can find a way to contribute,” he said.
Injury report
Krull, who rebounded from the fumble to catch four passes for 31 yards, was carted off the field in the third quarter with an apparent injury to his right foot. Payton said afterward Krull suffered a toe injury.
Cornerback Art Green was checked for concussion after taking a hit to the head late in the third quarter and did not return. Left guard Ben Powers walked gingerly off the field after taking a hit to the ribs in the first quarter, but he returned to play a third series with Denver’s offensive line.
Veteran defensive backs Brandon Jones and Levi Wallace are nursing hamstring injuries and did not suit up. The Broncos sat several other veterans Sunday, including cornerback Pat Surtain II and defensive ends Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers.
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(Photo of Bo Nix: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
Nick Kosmider is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Denver Broncos. He previously covered the Denver Nuggets for The Athletic after spending five years at the Denver Post, where he covered the city’s professional sports scene. His other stops include The Arizona Republic and MLB.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKosmider
