Julia Stumbaugh August 23, 2024
Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Denver Broncos rookie starting quarterback Bo Nix will not play during Sunday’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Instead Jarrett Stidham will get the start, while Zach Wilson will enter in relief, head coach Sean Payton said Friday (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter.)
“I’d like to see (Stidham) get eight to 12 plays, and then we’ll get a lot of work with Zach at some point in that first or early second quarter,” Payton said, per Schefter.
Nix was named the Broncos’ starter on Wednesday. He will see his next game action on Sept. 8 against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of the regular season.
Nix, Stidham and Wilson each began training camp splitting reps with the Broncos’ starting offense, per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.
Those reps went only to Nix and Stidham since the second week of training camp, and went mostly to Nix in the week leading up to Week 2 of the preseason, per Legwold.
Stidham started the first game of the Broncos’ preseason against the Indianapolis Colts, but only got two drives marred by offensive penalties before Nix took over.
Nix then started Week 2 of the preseason against the Green Bay Packers. Between his two preseason appearances the rookie went 23-of-30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the Broncos to score in six of his seven drives.
Stidham meanwhile has gone 11-of-18 for 102 yards with two interceptions, while Wilson has gone 12-of-19 for 146 yards and one pick.
Two preseason games may have been enough for Payton to make a call on QB1, but the Broncos still need to decide where Stidham and Wilson fit heading into the regular season.
Payton said Friday that there is “certainly” a possibility that the Broncos could decide to keep all three quarterbacks on the roster heading into the 2024 season, per Legwold.
“We’ve got a pretty good idea the direction we’re going … I think we’ve got a real good handle on that room specifically,” Payton said Friday about the quarterback decisions, per Legwold.
The decision to rest Nix will give the Broncos more time to watch Wilson against the Cardinals in what could be the former New York Jet signal caller’s final chance to audition for a spot on the 53-man roster.
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