Lo, and behold, Bo QB1. Not only will Bo Nix make his unofficial NFL debut as the backup to Jarrett Stidham in the Broncos’ exhibition Sunday against the horses of a different color, then next Sunday he will be the starting quarterback in his first ever appearance at the Mile High House against the Packers. The place will be packed with No.
10 jerseys. And, Voila!, Nix must start the regular season opener in Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Jarrett Stidham? Barely knew ‘im. Stidham is about to become the 15th quarterback in the Broncos’ storied history to start the first preseason game, but not the first regular season game. The most notable were Steve DeBerg in 1983, Bubby Brister in 1999, Brock Osweiler in 2015 and Mailon Kent in 1967.
Kent shares a distinction with Jarrett and Bo. All three played college football at Auburn. Yet, after the Broncos lost 19-2 to the Dolphins in their first exhibition, Kent didn’t make it to the regular season.
He went on to own an insurance agency in Birmingham. Jarrett and Bo will last longer. But Nix will beat out Stidham, who’s never been an opening-day starter in his five seasons (albeit he was injured for most of ’21 and didn’t play a down).
Stidham was advertised in New England as Tom Brady’s air apparent in 2020, but the Patriots signed free agent Cam Newton. So Stidham became a run-of-the-mediocre substitute for the Patriots, the Raiders and the Broncos in 12 games and a starter in four – with one victory (Christmas Eve).