On Saturday, the Denver Broncos concluded their first week of practice for training camp. Through three practices, rookie quarterback Bo Nix was the only Broncos signal caller to turn the ball over in the air.
The Broncos and their AFC West rival, the Las Vegas Raiders, have two of the most competitive quarterback battles in the league this summer. The Broncos quarterback situation is arguably the most intriguing in the league, as this battle includes a rookie, former No. 2 overall pick, and a veteran all trying to show offensive mastermind and head coach Sean Payton that they have what it takes to lead the team this season.
In his second season with the Broncos, Jason Stidham knows Payton’s offense the best. Former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson showed the most talent of the bunch during the spring. But the future of the team will be in Nix’s hands after the Broncos selected him with the No. 12 pick.
According to Nick Kosmider with The Athletic, Nix was the only Broncos quarterback to toss an interception so far in training camp. But the mistake isn’t entirely his fault:
Nix’s interception was the only one thrown by a Broncos quarterback during the first week of training camp, but it wasn’t the kind of play that figures plummet him down the pecking order in the competition. Separation through one week of training camp practices has been minimal if it exists at all.
Nix responded to the interception by throwing a pair of touchdowns during the next team period. He said after practice that he quickly put the interception behind him:
“You treat it just like a touchdown,” Nix said. “You (still) go on to the next play after it happens. You learn a lot out there each play. That’s just my focus right now.”
Payton hasn’t given an indication of who’s winning the quarterback battle at this point in training camp. All three quarterbacks have had their moments in practice.
Nix’s interception won’t hurt his chance to start in Week 1, but the touchdowns he threw afterward could give the coaching staff the confidence to play him this season.
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