ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When there is a new guy, and he’s a new quarterback at that, there can be enhanced interest in a team’s first preseason game of a new season.
Bo Nix is a curiosity. He is also a first-round draft pick, the latest hope to adequately filling the gaping quarterback void that has troubled the Broncos for going on a decade.
Denver’s last successful season was 2015. It is now 2024. Five head coaches – from Kubiak to Payton -- and 13 starting quarterbacks – from Siemian to Stidham – have their imprints on the Broncos’ playoff drought.
Can Nix lead this still proud, if no longer flourishing franchise back to perennial playoff contention? Broncos fans tuning in to Channel 20 for their team’s preseason opener Sunday at Indianapolis will have to be patient. Jarrett Stidham by right of incumbency (and most consistent offseason performance) will start against the Colts. Most starters will play. Nix should be in by the third or fourth series.
There are other elements to head coach Sean Payton’s second Broncos team worth the viewers’ attention. Here are 9:
1. Three Quarterbacks: Stidham, Bo and Zach
This may be a case where Stidham is No. 1, but trailing in the race. Nix seems to have moved ahead in recent days in training camp, but will defer to the incumbent for the preseason opener.
But for all the practice trends pointing toward Nix starting in the regular-season opener at Seattle, he still has to show winning quarterback qualities during the preseason. He hasn’t won the starting job, yet. Stidham played extremely well in the final two preseason games last year.
And Zach Wilson, the No. 3 QB who was acquired in April from the New York Jets, has a chance to win the No. 2 job if Nix becomes the starter.
“We’ve got three guys in that room who are really fighting for that spot, trying to make their claim why they should be the starting quarterback,’’ Broncos’ top receiver Courtland Sutton told 9NEWS this week. “I’m just proud of all three of those guys the way they’ve been leading each other and leading the room and leading our offense. Each guy when they step in that huddle they command our attention and it’s been fun to watch those guys compete.
“The cream is going to rise to the top and whoever makes it to the top is going to be the right guy for us leading us into Seattle.”
2. Javonte and Estime
This is the first chance to see the new Javonte Williams with his slimmed-down frame, and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime, a power back who can both bulldoze and catch.
3. Return of Dulcich
No Broncos player has received more ink, for less playing time, than third-year tight end Greg Dulcich. In the brief moments he’s been healthy, his combination of speed, size and athleticism offer the Broncos are almost unguardable weapon. But injuries, primarily the hamstring, have sidelined him 22 of 34 games through his first two seasons. Dulcich has developed a new running stride and he hasn’t missed a rep through the first three weeks of training camp.
4. Last two WR spots
There are usually six receivers kept on a season-opening roster and the Broncos currently have four locks: Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr. and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin.
The last two spots will come from an eight-receiver group headed by Tim Patrick, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, seventh-round rookie Devaughn Vele and Brandon Johnson.
Then there’s 9-year veteran Phillip Dorsett, David Sills, Michael Bandy and Jalen Virgil. Someone from the back-end receiver group figures to stand out.
5. New kickoff play
You’ll have to watch it, then ask questions. At first glance, the new kickoff return play doesn’t look like football. But the idea is to increase the probability of a return after 79% of all kickoffs last year were touchbacks. The NFL would like that number closer to 65% while still aligning the players in a way that minimizes full-speed, long-field collisions.
The Broncos are a proponent of the new rule thanks to having a formidable special teams coaching staff in Mike Westhoff, Ben Kotwica and Chris Banjo and a Pro Bowl returner in Mims.
6. Moss and Mathis
The cornerback competition at the spot opposite Pat Surtain II has been close throughout the offseason and training camp. Riley Moss, who didn’t play much as a third-round rookie last year, may have the edge on Damarri Mathis, a rookie starter two years ago but who lost his job last year.
7. Barton and Griffith
Alex Singleton is a 10-tackle-a-game, 17-game-a-year starter at one inside linebacker spot. But with the other six-year linebacker Josey Jewell allowed to leave for free agency and Carolina, who will be Singleton’s tackling partner?
Cody Barton, a free agent who has started the past two years with Seattle and Washington, and Jonas Griffith, a former Broncos’ starter coming off two years of season-ending injuries, are heading the competition.
8. Dixon vs. Gill
Riley Dixon, the incumbent, is incredibly talented and was inconsistent through the first two-thirds of last season. So much so, the Broncos’ special teams staff brought in competition in Trenton Gill, who was the Bears’ punter the previous two years.
Dixon seems to have the edge now, but he’ll have to perform well in the preseason. Gill also has the ability to occasionally spare Wil Lutz from kickoff duty.
9. Undrafted rookie or practice squad player surprise
It was running back Jaleel McLaughlin last year. Tim Patrick in 2018, C.J. Anderson in 2013 and Chris Harris Jr. in 2011. Every year for the past two decades a young player plays his way onto the Broncos’ season-opening roster through his preseason performances.
The Broncos have had an undrafted rookie make their season-opening roster in 19 of the past 20 seasons.