DENVER — The two veteran quarterbacks who lost out to rookie Bo Nix for the Broncos’ starting job had decidedly different reactions to the decision.
Understand that just because they were different doesn’t mean one was right and the other was wrong.
First, Jarrett Stidham’s reaction when he was told by head coach Sean Payton that Nix would be the starter.
“First of all, obviously, I was very disappointed,’’ Stidham said. “I know I’m a starting quarterback in this league. I have zero doubts about that. It just didn’t shake out my way.
“But I know what kind of player I am, the kind of person I am. I’ll be ready to go if I need to be and, yeah, like I said, I have no doubts I’m a starting-caliber quarterback in this league.”
Now for Zach Wilson’s reaction to the news Bo would be the guy.
“I was excited for him,’’ Wilson said. “I don’t think it was a surprise too much, right? I think he’s had a great camp. I told him I’m excited for him with this opportunity.
“I really believe they’re putting him in a good situation. I think Sean has done a phenomenal job and the [coaches] we get to hang out with starting with Davis [Webb] and Joe [Lombardi] and Pete [Carmichael] and then Johnny Mo [Morton], we have a great offensive staff. I think they do a great job and then Bo has just continued to keep getting better. I’m excited to see what he can do and I think he’s ready for it.”
These divergent perspectives can be explained with some context. Stidham is entering his sixth NFL season with just four career starts. Even if Nix was the No. 12 overall selection in the first round, Stidham had a shot. He was the Broncos’ No. 1 quarterback through the offseason OTAs. He was No. 1 at the start of camp and then he shared first-team reps with Nix for the next two weeks of camp and first two preseason games.
Nix received the nod from Payton on Wednesday.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to help Bo get prepared,'' Stidham said. "Obviously he’s never had a real season like this in the NFL. I’m going to help him whatever way I can, and then also be ready to go if I need to be.”
Wilson, meanwhile, started 31 games in his three seasons with the New York Jets and is now entering his fourth season with a new team. He was out of the running for Broncos’ No. 1 quarterback for all but the first week of training camp. Since then, Wilson had been working with the No. 3 offense before he got an extended audition for the No. 2 quarterback job Sunday against Arizona.
Payton said after the final preseason game Sunday he believes all three quarterbacks will make the 53-man roster. Now the question is, who’s No. 2? It makes sense that Stidham would be the No. 2 quarterback on game day with Wilson available on an emergency basis.
