ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — All signs had pointed to Jarrett Stidham as the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback to rookie starter Bo Nix.
Head coach Sean Payton has now punctuated this notion with the release of the team’s official depth chart. Under the quarterback position, Payton listed Nix as No. 1, Stidham No. 2 and Zach Wilson as No. 3.
In an unusual move that slaps a helmet to veterans on the practice field, Payton listed fullback Michael Burton and receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey on the depth chart. Both Burton and Humphrey are expected to be elevated from the practice squad Saturday and play in the Broncos’ season opener Sunday at Seattle.
All three quarterbacks will dress in game uniform for the Broncos’ game with the Seahawks with Wilson designated as the No. 3 emergency quarterback. He can only play if the first two quarterbacks are unable to play because of injury.
Stidham deserved to be the top backup after he closely competed with Nix throughout the offseason and training camp. Stidham was the Broncos’ No. 1 quarterback through the OTAs held from late-May through mid-June, then opened training camp as the top quarterback. Wilson was relegated to No. 3 quarterback after the first week of camp, leaving Stidham and Nix to battle it out for the starter spot.
Nix won the job thanks to two superb preseason performances. Payton and general manager George Paton decided to keep all three of their quarterbacks on the season-opening, 53-man roster, a deviation from past years when the Broncos would begin with two quarterbacks.
Stidham’s $6 million pay out this year ties him with Washington’s Marcus Mariota and the New York Jets’ Tyrod Taylor for the league’s highest-paid veteran quarterback position.
