Current:Home > StocksBroncos install Bo Nix as first rookie Week 1 starting QB since John Elway -Mastery Money Tools
Broncos install Bo Nix as first rookie Week 1 starting QB since John Elway
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:47:37
Sean Payton has made the decision he wasn't prepared to announce just a few days earlier.
The Denver Broncos coach on Wednesday revealed that rookie Bo Nix will be the team's starting quarterback.
Nix, who was the No. 12 pick in April's NFL draft, completed eight of nine passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers. Still, after the game, Payton was not yet ready to make any proclamations about the quarterback competition that also featured Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
By Wednesday, Payton no longer saw a need to wait.
"We're not in a hurry to arrive at those types of decisions. We want to see it," Payton said. "And I think it's important, relative to the team, that we handle it that way. He's been outstanding."
All things Broncos: Latest Denver Broncos news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Nix wasn't informed about the decision until just before Wednesday's practice.
"It was really cool," Nix said. "It's not every day to get that news. But obviously as a room we've been working hard and putting a lot of good things on film, putting a lot of good things on the practice field."
In taking over for Russell Wilson, who was released after two seasons and left a record $85 million dead-cap hit for Denver, Nix becomes the Broncos' first rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 since John Elway did so in 1983.
"Obviously, that's great to share with such a great player like John Elway," Nix told reporters. "Doesn't matter when your first start is. Doesn't matter if you have to wait or you go right now, you just want to go out there and get the win, and ultimately compete at a high level.
As part of record-tying draft class that featured six signal-callers selected in the first round, he will be the third first-year passer set to start in Week 1, joining the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams and Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels.
Nix set a Football Bowl Subdivision record with a 77.4% completion rate at Oregon in 2023 en route to being named a Heisman Trophy finalist. After transferring from Auburn and spending his final two years with the Ducks, he also notched the all-time mark for career starts with 61.
Denver opens its season at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (617)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Michigan attorney general blames Gov. Whitmer kidnap trial acquittals on ‘right-leaning’ jurors
- 3 Vegas-area men to appeal lengthy US prison terms in $10M prize-notification fraud case
- New Spain soccer coach names roster made up largely of players who've threatened boycott
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- 78-year-old allegedly shoots, kills neighbor who was trimming trees on property line
- Lawsuit by Islamic rights group says US terror watchlist woes continue even after names are removed
- UEFA Champions League live updates: Schedule, time, TV, scores, streaming info for Tuesday
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Americans freed from Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’
Ranking
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Judge to decide if former DOJ official's Georgia case will be moved to federal court
- House Republicans put forth short-term deal to fund government
- DC police announce arrest in Mother’s Day killing of 10-year-old girl
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Ariana Grande files for divorce from Dalton Gomez after 2 years of marriage
- Why large cities will bear the brunt of climate change, according to experts
- Newcastle fan stabbed 3 times in Milan ahead of Champions League opener
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Iran’s president denies sending drones and other weapons to Russia and decries US meddling
Americans freed from Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’
Budda Baker will miss at least four games as Cardinals place star safety on injured reserve
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
College football Week 3 overreactions: SEC missing playoff, Shedeur Sanders winning Heisman
Canada is investigating whether India is linked to the slaying of a Sikh activist
UN dramatically revises down death toll from Libya floods amid chaotic response