The issue is no longer about No. 1, but who is No. 2 and will there be a No.
3? As the Broncos arrive at their final public training camp practice on Friday, made spicy by reps against the Green Bay Packers, the quarterback questions remain. There is little debate about whether Bo Nix will start. He has made steady progress throughout camp, then delivered in his debut against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards.
He also went 4 for 5 for 50 yards on third down, 5 for 5 in the second half, took zero sacks and guided the Broncos to 20 points on five drives. This is catnip for coach Sean Payton. So why not give him the job? Simply put, he doesn’t have to.
Not yet anyway. In this battle of the bands, the music is still playing. But barring something unforeseen, Nix should be named the Broncos’ 14th starter since Peyton Manning retired sometime next week.
That’s my prediction and I am sticking to it. But what does that mean for the rest of the room? Jarrett Stidham has been keeping the seat warm for Nix since the former Oregon star was drafted 12th overall. Stidham entered camp atop the depth chart, earned for his work last season and in the offseason.
He started against the Colts, producing a vintage “it ain’t pretty, it’s Stiddy” outing with four completions and an interception that wasn’t his fault. Stidham, 28, even worked with the 1s on Thursday. The common refrain during the first two weeks of camp was that Stidham would ultimately.