Should Broncos be worried about Bo Nix's early preseason struggles?

Keep in mind the 25-year-old QB played against the 49ers second-team defense. Should that raise more concerns about Nix's rocky performance? Not necessarily. The Athletic's Nick Kosmider noted things could've been different for the offense had it made one big play early. 

"What should be taken from Nix's outing? Not much," Kosmider wrote in a piece published Sunday. "He started the game with a well-placed deep ball down the left sideline to [wide receiver Courtland] Sutton that the veteran receiver couldn't quite haul in. With such a limited sample size, the complexion of the first-team offense's night could have been entirely different had that play been made."

Nix acknowledged he wished he and Sutton had connected on the throw during a postgame news conference. While it was frustrating for the young passer, he said plays like that are something that can help the team grow. 

"The good thing about football is every one of those plays was different today," he said. "You saw a different outcome, so you can talk about it and just add that to your football knowledge and move on and go from there." 

Broncos head coach Sean Payton lets his starters play in preseason to work out the bugs before the regular season. Nix's comment suggests he's embracing that opportunity. 

However, he must show signs of progress in Denver's next preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Broncos are banking on Nix taking another step after finishing third in 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. If he does, that would give Denver a strong chance to win its first playoff game since Super Bowl 50 in 2016.