Bo Nix is still searching for answers in the red zone

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bo Nix hasn’t gotten off to an ideal start in Denver.

“I definitely think it’s a work in progress and we’re all—all 11 of us on offense, have things we can improve on,” Nix told reporters on Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos drafted Nix with the 12th overall pick in April’s draft and made him the franchise’s first rookie quarterback to start Week 1 since John Elway. Expectations were massive, especially after a stellar preseason.

But Nix’s Broncos lost their first two games. The NCAA’s all-time record-holder for completion percentage has completed less than 60% of his passes. He’s thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns. His 51 passer rating is the second worst in the NFL, only ahead of Carolina’s Bryce Young, who was benched earlier this week.

The numbers get worse in the red zone, where Nix is 4-for-10 for 15 yards and an interception. His passer rating drops to 8.3.

The Broncos rank dead last in the NFL, scoring touchdowns on 14% of their trips to the red zone.

“In the NFL I, obviously, haven’t figured out a whole lot since we haven’t scored in the red zone yet,” Nix said. “Like anything else, that’s a work in progress.”

The Broncos’ lone touchdown was a scramble by Nix.

“Red zone is always hard no matter what level you’re on because the field shrinks, and the defense doesn’t have as much ground to cover,” he said. “We just have to do a good job of being efficient in the red zone and continuing to move forward.”

Nix isn’t alone in his struggles. No rookie has thrown a touchdown yet this season. Historically, answers aren’t easy to come by in the NFL if you’re a rookie quarterback.

Rookies have posted a 656-1,107-12 record as starters in the Super Bowl Era. In a 17-game season, that’s the equivalent of a 6-11 record.

When you only look at rookie quarterbacks who went on to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the record is 29-66-2. That’s a 5-12 pace.

In other words, success or failure in the first few weeks of a quarterback’s career doesn’t affect the long-term outlook. Just ask Peyton Manning and John Elway.

The key for Nix is growth, and head coach Sean Payton has seen that from him.

“I felt like we saw steps,” Payton said on Monday. “I thought he processed pretty quickly yesterday. I thought he got into some of his progressions really well. At the line, he’s in charge of a handful of things.”

While the rookie still has plenty to clean up, his teammates haven’t put him in great situations.

Nix has been pressured at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF also credits Nix with creating pressure for himself at the ninth-highest rate.

Drops have been a factor, too. Tight end Greg Dulcich was the most recent culprit, dropping a pair of passes on Sunday.

“When I miss a pass, they don’t come up and harp on me,” Nix said. “So I think I have to treat them the same exact way. We’re professionals, and we have high standards, but we’re allowed to mess up, too, and we make mistakes. Those guys, I see them work every day. I see them continuously show up, make plays in practice, make plays in games. So I’m not going to get too uptight about one play.”

Nix even takes blame for some of the drops.

“Sometimes a drop is seen on national television, but you didn’t see the inaccurate throw, or you didn’t see somebody that might have messed up within the play,” he said. “So sometimes that is made bigger than what it is. I think it’s just a mistake that everybody makes, and we just have to continue to fix our mistakes.”

While the Broncos have plenty to clean up, Nix—an Arkansas native—is excited to play closer to home this week, when the Broncos take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He admits it’s strange that he’s excited for the Florida humidity.

“I love it,” he said. “When you get in the game, you start feeling the effects of the humidity and temperature; I think that’s when it’s kind of like high school football all over again. I’m excited for that. I think it’s going to play a—not necessarily a huge role in the game, but I’m excited to get back to it.”

Maybe feeling like he’s back home will help Nix take another step on Sunday.

Nix will have a new face blocking for him on Sunday, with Alex Palczewski taking over for Mike McGlinchey at right tackle.