Did Sean Payton give a hint as to who will start in the Denver Broncos’ first preseason game?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton didn’t have much interest in talking about the Denver Broncos‘ first unofficial depth chart hours after it was released on Tuesday.

But instead, the head coach might have dropped a valuable clue as to who will get the first start at quarterback in the preseason.

On Tuesday, minutes before the Broncos’ 12th training camp practice, the team unveiled their first unofficial depth chart.

“I’m not ready for a depth chart, but I have to get a depth chart,” Payton said minutes after practice concluded, pointing to the NFL’s rules that mandate every team must release a depth chart the week of their first preseason game. “It’s due today by 2 p.m. The word there is ‘unofficial’. We get it written out.”

While Payton tried to squash any importance in the team’s first unofficial depth chart, all eyes were on how he and the team ordered the quarterbacks.

Jarrett Stidham was listed as the starter, Zach Wilson the second-string quarterback and rookie first-round pick Bo Nix was listed third.

“It’s easy to push the [rookies] to the back of the line and then make sure it’s kind of where we sit right now,” Payton said, pointing to every rookie being listed last in their respective position, squashing any reason to believe Nix is truly the third quarterback on the team. “That’s really it.”

A source told DNVR before Payton spoke that the team took an old-school approach to building the depth chart by putting every rookie last, regardless of performance or rep count during training camp. Another reason not to be concerned with Nix being listed with the third-string.

And while Payton said playing time in the team’s first preseason game on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts won’t be decided until later on Tuesday and Wednesday, he did drop a clue as to who could start that game at quarterback

“[Stidham will] get work with the [No.] 1’s in this preseason, and we’ll see what we do with the other guys,” Payton said, when asked if Stidham earned his No. 1 spot on the depth chart.

By Payton admitting Stidham will play with the starters during the preseason, but remaining uncertain about Nix and Wilson’s role with the starters, that could indicate that the veteran will get the initial nod to open up the preseason.

If this does happen, it shouldn’t come as any surprise. In fact, it would follow the trend that has taken place for months.

Stidham got the first nod with the starters to open up OTAs in the spring. Then, he got the first go with the starters to begin training camp. Stidham getting the first crack with the starters in preseason would continue the trend that Payton has set over the past few months.

“You want to see your team be efficient and be smart. You want to hit on the things that you’ve been working on relative to scheme and what we’re doing,” Payton said, explaining what he wants to see from his quarterbacks in the preseason.

“It’s the first preseason game. The focus obviously will be more internally driven,” he added. “We’ll get on at some point this week—Friday, we’ll turn the page to Indianapolis. So we’re still in this training camp [mode]. We’re not working on the Colts right now. We’re working just on us, and later in the week we’ll flip the script. Ultimately you want to see clean execution. You want to see the fundamentals we’ve been coaching and then carried over to the field.”

If preseason follows the trend in training camp, Stidham would get the start in the first preseason game, while Nix would get the start in the second preseason game as the team welcomes the Green Bay Packers to town.

But, when it comes to the first unofficial depth chart, there’s no speculating needed to understand why Nix was No. 3.

“Rookies are at the back of the line,” Payton made clear.