Have the Broncos hit the jackpot and found a diamond in the rough?
Zach Wilson has found himself in a familiar position, on the bench holding a clip board and wearing a visor.
The Denver Broncos have named rookie Bo Nix as their starting quarterback on Wednesday, with the Oregon product scheduled to be under center when the team opens the 2024 NFL season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 8.
Nix has stood out among the crowd during training camp and in two preseason games after being selected No. 12 overall in April’s NFL draft, and Sean Payton decided to hand the 24-year-old the keys to the car after Denver took on an enormous $85 million in dead-cap hit to move on from Russell Wilson earlier this offseason.
“It was really cool,” Nix said Wednesday about finding out he would be the starter. “It’s not every day [you] get that news, but obviously as a room we’ve been working hard and putting a lot of good things on film and a lot of good things on the practice field. So, to get that news is definitely a great thing. I’m super excited.”
Payton said Nix has been “outstanding” this summer, and complimented his arm strength down the field as one of the areas he has excelled in.
The rookie beat out veteran Jarrett Stidham and Wilson, whom the Broncos acquired in a trade with the New York Jets earlier this year following three less than stellar seasons.
Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of BYU, was supposed to have a red shirt season and learn behind Aaron Rodgers last year, but things took a sharp turn and he was forced right back into the fire when Rodgers tore his Achilles four offensive plays into the season on Monday Night Football.
The 25-year-old, who recently got engaged to girlfriend Nicolette Dellanno, threw for a pedestrian 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games last year.
Nix went 8-for-9 with 80 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in a 27-2 victory on Sunday, while Wilson struggled and went 2-for-6 with 29 yards and a touchdown.
Stidham, the former Patriots fourth-round pick, went 7-for-11 with 65 yards and an interception.
When Nix lines up behind center for the September 8 regular-season opener in Seattle against the Seahawks, he will be the first Denver rookie to start the regular-season opener since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
“Obviously, that’s great to share with such a great player as John Elway,” Nix said. “… You just want to go out there and get the first win, ultimately compete at a high level and give your team the best chance to win.”
Nix joins the Bears’ Caleb Williams (No. 1 pick) and Commanders’ Jayden Daniels (No. 2 pick), as rookie quarterbacks who will start in Week 1.
