The Denver Broncos will take on head coach Sean Payton’s former team, the New Orleans Saints, to close out the preseason, and they will have starting quarterback Bo Nix under center.
Nix is healthy, but Payton, like many head coaches, has taken advantage of joint practices to get his starters plenty of work. So, the possibility that Payton could put his 1s, especially the older ones or those with lengthier injury histories, on ice until Week 1 remained.
Payton also set a rough estimate of how many reps the second-year passer will get.
“Our plan is to play our starters for eight to 10 plays – depending, and that’s not just etched in stone – and then get into our second phase and third phase,” Payton said on August 21.
According to Pro Football Focus, Nix logged 12 dropbacks in 19 total snaps in his first action of the preseason, a 30-9 Broncos victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the opener. He went 6-for-11 for 34 scoreless yards.
The Broncos continue to have high hopes for Nix in his second season.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Touts Bo Nix’s Work Ethic, Expectations
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before against the San Francisco 49ers.
Payton has expressed confidence that Nix can be among the top quarterbacks in the league in the next several seasons.
He more recently explained just why his faith in Nix is so high.
“The great thing about Bo is the expectations he has for himself are so high. And I think just as a teammate, as a leader in Year 2, I know his focus is is winning,” Payton said in an interview with Jo Madden on August 21.
“I think when you look at his work ethic and how he prepares, he’s the son of a coach from Alabama, where football is very important. He’s hit adversity, and then he’s also had a lot of success. So, I think you know that term ‘building off the last year,’ I think it’s really more of a comfort level.”
Payton is not the only one who has cited Nix’s improved comfort in and command of the Broncos’ offense in his second season. Tight end Adam Trautman joined in, too.
Broncos Safety Branon Jones also praised Nix’s progress.
“His comfort level has been amazing. You can see that he truly understands the defense, depending on the front coverages that we’re in. He understands the beaters that come with the certain coverages that you play,” Jones told reporters on August 21. “I’ve seen him make that jump from a game-to-game basis last year, and I think he’s miles from even where we ended the season. So, super happy and excited for him.”
Jones and the Broncos have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Nix’s outlook for the 2025 campaign.
Bo Nix Turns Heads With ‘Elite’ Pro Bowl Playmaker
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
One of the biggest changes the Broncos made around Nix was signing two-time Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram in free agency from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi called Engram an “elite” receiving option during his media availability on August 20, and the former New York Giants first-round pick has already showcased a strong connection with his new QB, Nix.
DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens shared a slow-motion clip of the two connecting, calling it “poetry.”
“I’m his ‘yes man.’ Whatever he needs, whatever he sees,” Engram told reporters on August 14. “He’s very open to conversation. And just getting to know his vision of ball, and then he asked questions about mine, it’s very uh cohesive. I think just the way he works, his mindset, is definitely – I definitely think he can have a lot of success this year.”
If the Broncos are going to realize their goals for this coming season, they need Nix to take similar steps forward on the field.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Broncos Make Critical Bo Nix Announcement Before Facing Saints appeared first on Heavy Sports.