Bo Nix Is Benched for Preseason Opener? Chill, Broncos Fans — It's Part of the Plan

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Pump the brakes on the panic, Broncos Country. Bo Nix won't suit up Friday night against the Falcons, but that's not a red flag — it's a chess move.

Head coach Sean Payton made it crystal clear Wednesday: Nix's recovery from two right ankle surgeries is right on track, and the third-year quarterback will get his reps in the final two preseason games against the Packers and Vikings — both at Mile High.

“Bo won't play in this game, he'll play next week,” Payton said after practice. “If we were playing a (regular-season) game — he wants to play, he'll play the next two weeks.”

Translation: The kid is ready. But why risk it on turf in Atlanta when you don't have to? Payton didn't blame the playing surface, but everyone knows the Broncos prefer grass. And with Nix finally full-go after missing most of the offseason program, patience is the play.

Nix fractured his right ankle in January's playoff win over Buffalo, underwent surgery immediately, then had a follow-up procedure in April to clean up bone spurs. He's practiced fully since training camp opened, and Payton says he's taken the same number of reps as he did last summer.

“If we were playing a (regular-season) game, I would say he would play (and) he'd probably (be) ... 100%,” Payton said. “... He's right where we were hoping he'd be.”

Nix himself has been adamant he feels “completely normal” and won't hesitate to use his legs when the real games start. “I'm going to roll out. I'm going to be as athletic as I can be,” he said earlier in camp. “For me, that's when I feel at my best, that's when I feel free.”

Stidham and Ehlinger Get Their Shot

With Nix watching from the sideline, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will split the game against Atlanta — each getting a half. Stidham gets the start. The rest of Denver's starters will see about 15 plays, including linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who's dealing with serious legal trouble after two arrests on domestic violence charges in June.

Payton says Cooper will play. “You have to keep gathering the information,” he said.

Also worth watching: This is the first game since Payton handed off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb. Webb called plays in last year's preseason win over Arizona when the Broncos racked up 500-plus yards. So yeah, there's some juice here.

Bottom line? Nix is on schedule. The offense is in good hands. And Friday's game is about evaluating the backups — not about the future of Denver's franchise QB.