HUGE BOOST TO BRONCOS: Joe Lombardi Sends Important Message About Rookie Bo Nix

The Denver Broncos haven’t disclosed exactly how much playing time Bo Nix will get in their first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. However, the coaching staff appears pleased with their first-round rookie quarterback.

Nix, 24, is competing with another 24-year-old former first-round pick, Zach Wilson, and veteran quarterback Jarrett Stidham for the starting position in Week 1 against the Seahawks. Currently, Nix is listed third on the depth chart, but head coach Sean Payton cautions that the current roster order doesn’t hold much weight, as all rookies are initially placed at the bottom of their positions.

 

 

Whether or not Nix starts in Indianapolis, he is expected to make his NFL debut during the preseason.

Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi spoke about Nix on Thursday, emphasizing the quarterback’s growing comfort level with the team’s operations. “He’s really instinctive, and playing football has come naturally to him from the start,” Lombardi said. “It’s just about getting used to the huddle calls and making checks at the line of scrimmage. The more he sees, the more comfortable he gets.”

“… . It’s really just the comfort level when you give him a play and it’s new and the defense has a new install. There’s a little bit of not as much confidence when he gets it, when you look in his eyes. And then after a couple of days, when you’re running the same plays, you…

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 8, 2024

Nix’s college career saw him play at two different schools—first at Auburn, where his father was a legend, and later at Oregon, where he developed into a Heisman contender. His extensive game experience as a five-year starter likely gives him an advantage in adapting to Payton and Lombardi’s system.

“We had a pretty intense install over the past three days. He’s had to catch up on some of that, but he’s shown the intelligence and preparation we hoped for,” Lombardi added. “It’s really about his comfort level. When he’s first given a new play, there’s some hesitation, especially when the defense also introduces something new. But after a few days of running the same plays, you can see his confidence grow, and he starts to look like a veteran.”

As for what Lombardi expects from Nix and the other quarterbacks on Sunday?

“Just a clean operation and good football, considering the situation,” he said. “There’s not much game planning for these preseason games. You take a look at the team you’re about to play, and you pick your install plays accordingly, but it’s not like the regular season where you adjust formations or routes based on specific looks. The players are working with different teammates, so there’s more uncertainty than in a regular-season game. The key is to manage that, make good decisions, and take advantage of the plays available. If we call a bad play, make sure it doesn’t lead to anything worse. Just operate well given the circumstances.”

Lombardi mentioned later in the day that the coaching staff was still finalizing the plan for the quarterbacks’ playing time, but it should be sorted out before Friday.