QB Scoreboard: Bo Nix lights up seven-on-sevens on Day 12 of Denver Broncos Training Camp

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The countdown to the Denver Broncos‘ first preseason game is on.

The Broncos held a padded practice on Tuesday, their 12th practice as they ramp up to the start of the 2024 season. The Broncos are scheduled to where pads against on Wednesday.

Despite being just days away from a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos aren’t ready to start game-planning. They’ll hold typical camp practices through Thursday, before spending Friday preparing for Indianapolis. They’ll have a walkthrough on Saturday before the game on Sunday.

Quarterback Scoreboard

The Broncos held a round of seven-on-sevens, two rounds of team drills and a two minute drill on Tuesday.

Here’s the scenario for the two-minute drill…

The game is tied 21-21 with 1:38 left. The offense has a timeout and the ball at its own 38-yard line. All the quarterback needs is a field goal to win the game.

Bo Nix: B

Bo Nix was electric in seven-on-sevens.

He hit Lucas Krull up the seam for a 28-yard touchdown.

Then he hit a wide open Tim Patrick for an easy 19-yard touchdown in the side of the end zone.

The rest of the day was less exciting.

He was sacked a couple of times. He hit converted a couple of short third downs to Jaleel McLaughlin and Troy Franklin. He almost had a long ball to Marvin Mims Jr. but he could only get one hand on the pass, while hand fighting with Tremon Smith. There might have been a penalty.

When the time came to win the hypothetical game, Nix got the job done.

His drive started slowly with a throwaway and a six-yard gain for Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He converted the ensuing 3rd & 4 with a 14-yard out to Troy Franklin.

Nix tried for Franklin again on a corner route on the next play, but the ball was slightly overthrown. Franklin looked like he slowed down, too.

On 2nd & 10 from the 46-yard line, Nix had 52 seconds left. He picked up half of what he needed on a short throw to Humphrey. On 3rd & 4, just outside field goal range, Nix was pressured. I thought Thomas Incoom would have had a sack in a game situation, but the coaches decided he would’ve gotten the throw off to Javonte Williams for a six-yard gain.

Nix spiked the ball with 26 seconds left. Then he threw a curl to Franklin that was off target. Nix looked like he expected Franklin to be a step closer to the sideline than he was. The receiver got his hands on the ball but couldn’t bring it in.

On third down, Wil Lutz hit the 51-yard field goal to win the game.

Nix’s final drive wasn’t the sharpest, but it did the trick. His seven-on-seven session carries his grade.

Jarrett Stidham: B-

Jarrett Stidham threw a dart in seven-on-sevens.

On a 3rd & 6 from the 10-yard line, Stidham ripped a ball to Adam Trautman in the middle of the end zone. Riley Moss was in good coverage, but the throw was better.

Stidham hit some short passes in the early team periods. He almost found Josh Reynolds on a deep fade in the end zone, but good coverage from Kris Abrams-Draine forced an incompletion.

Stidham’s two-minute drill started with a bang. Stidham hit Greg Dulcich near the boundary with Jonas Griffith in solid position for a 19-yard gain.

On the next play, Courtland Sutton nearly brought in a one-handed grab on the sideline through tight coverage from Moss, but he couldn’t hold onto the ball when he hit the ground. Sutton battled Moss again on the next play but Stidham couldn’t hit the tight window on a drag because of pressure from Dondrea Tillman.

On 3rd & 10, 43 yards from the end zone, Stidham couldn’t find a receiver and scrambled for three yards.

Now, the Broncos were at the 40-yard line. They opted to try to convert the 4th & 7 instead of kicking the 57-yard field goal. More than a minute remained on the clock.

I thought Jonathon Cooper sacked Stidham. The defense sent a zero blitz. Courtland Sutton beat Abrams-Draine with a double move and Stidham hit him wide open downfield. After the play, the ball was spotted at the eight-yard line.

For what it’s worth, the rookie cornerback was probably right to play the first break hard. Given the blitz, the quarterback shouldn’t have time to throw a double-move. And as I wrote, I don’t think Stidham did have time.

Zach Wilson: D+

Zach Wilson‘s seven-on-sevens were… rough. His completion didn’t convert the 3rd & 4.

Wilson’s best throw of the day came in team drills when he connected with Devaughn Vele on a back-shoulder pass for a 20-yard gain past Art Green. He also converted a 3rd & 5 with a pass to Franklin.

Wilson caught a tough break when Audric Estime was only able to get one hand on a pass out of the backfield, tipping it into the air for Tremon Smith to intercept.

Wilson’s two-minute drill was chaotic.

Jaleel McLaughlin dropped his first pass. Then Wilson tried to drive a ball to Phillip Dorsett on an out route, but Levelle Bailey undercut the pass and should have had a pick-six… but he couldn’t hold onto the ball.

On 3rd & 10, Jalen Virgil beat Green on a curl to move the sticks. Wilson was near midfield.

A first-down pass to the sideline was incomplete. A drag to Hunter Kampmoyer was dropped. The 3rd & 10 throw hit a lineman. It looked to me like Wilson tried to pump fake but the ball came out of his hand.

On 4th & 10 from their own 47-yard line, the Broncos opted to punt.

GPAs
Average of daily grades.

Jarrett Stidham: 2.71 (B-)
Bo Nix: 2.62 (B-)
Zach Wilson: 1.98 (C)

The Broncos release a depth chart

The Broncos distributed their first depth chart of the season on Tuesday. It’s pretty worthless, though.

Maybe you can read into Luke Wattenberg being the starting center and Alex Forsyth being No. 2.

“We could have put ‘or,’” head coach Sean Payton said when asked about the order of the two centers.

Maybe you can read into Damarri Mathis being listed as a co-starter with Riley Moss at boundary cornerback.

Levi Wallace was listed behind them.

“[Wallace] should be in there,” Payton said. “He’s battling. He should be in there.”

All of the rookies were listed at the back of the depth chart. Most of the guys in position battles were listed as co-starters.

My advice: read absolutely nothing into the depth chart. That’s especially true considering the coaching staff won’t decide who is playing with the starters, second wave and third wave until meetings late Tuesday and Wednesday.

Notes

• The Broncos signed Alec Mock, an undrafted free agent linebacker from Air Force. He was previously on the Broncos’ roster but was released prior to training camp.
  
  
• The Broncos waived outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins with an injury designation.
  
  
• The Carolina Panthers claimed former Broncos safety Caden Sterns on Tuesday. The Panthers had the first priority in the claim order. Sterns reunites with former Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
  
  

Click here for our updated 53-man roster projection.

Check out our Day 11 notes here.

Check out our Day 10 notes here.

Check out our Day 9 notes here.

Check out our Day 8 notes here.

Check out our Day 7 notes here.

Check out our Day 6 notes here.

Check out our Day 5 notes here.

Check out our Day 4 notes here.

Check out our Day 3 notes here.

Check out our Day 2 notes here.

Check out our Day 1 notes here.