The Denver Broncos have named rookie Bo Nix their starting quarterback for the 2024 NFL season, coach Sean Payton announced after Wednesday’s practice.
Nix is now set to start when the team goes on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8. He will become the team’s first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start in Week 1. Nix won the job after competing with Jarrett Stidham (and Zach Wilson) this summer.
Stidham started the team’s preseason opener last week and Nix started their second exhibition game on Sunday night. Through two preseason games, Nix is 23-of-30 passing for 205 yards with two touchdown passes and no turnovers. Stidham is 11-of-18 for 102 yards with no passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
To be fair to Stidham, he does have a rushing score and his first interception was not his fault. Regardless, it’s clear that Nix is the team’s best option.
Broncos coach Sean Payton used the 12th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft to select Nix after the QB set an NCAA record with a 77.45% completion rate at Oregon last fall.
Nix will become Denver’s 14th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016. Stidham started the team’s final two games last year after the team benched Russell Wilson, who was released this spring.
The Broncos must now decide who will serve as Nix’s backup in 2024. If Denver only carries two QBs on the 53-man roster, one of Stidham or Wilson will be cut or traded next week. The Broncos could bring back the third-string QB on the practice squad if he’s not picked up by another team.
