The Denver Broncos won what turned into a shootout against the Indianapolis Colts in the first preseason game of the 2024 season by a score of 34-30. All three of the team's quarterbacks were able to get in on the action.
Sean Payton chose Jarrett Stidham to start the game. He saw action on the first two offensive possessions before first-round pick Bo Nix took over.
Nix will start the second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night and have a chance to continue his strong start. After seeing each quarterback in action, how should the depth chart currently look?
Denver Broncos' QB depth chart should look like this after first preseason game
Bo Nix
If you came into this game feeling that Nix should be the Week 1 starter, nothing should change. Nix looked terrific against the Colts and you can say what you will about the importance (or lack thereof) of preseason games and that he went against backups, etc., but the key points to his level of play were his poise and athleticism.
He made some great throws in limited action and he showed that he is willing to tuck the ball away and pick up extra yards on the ground, an underrated aspect of his game.
Steve Smith, the former Carolina Panthers wide receiver who now works as an analyst for NFL Network, talked about how he is still not convinced that Nix has done enough to be the starter. Most Broncos fans are likely going to sit on the opposite side of that fence.
Jarrett Stidham
Jarrett Stidham is Sean Payton's safety valve. He is the guy that he knows can run his offense if Nix is just not quite ready to take the field in Week 1.
Stidham is exactly what you want in a backup quarterback and it's quite clear that Payton is confident in him.
Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson is the No. 3 guy and that is almost certainly where he will finish the preseason. But he didn't look bad against the Colts, completing 10-of-13 passes for 117 yards. The former No. 2 overall pick is looking to get his career back on track but Denver may not be the place where that happens.
But what should the Broncos do? Should they keep all three quarterbacks on the roster? They would probably like to get him to the practice squad if not, but he almost certainly won't clear waivers.
So perhaps the best idea is to wait through the preseason and see if there is a team in dire need of another quarterback. They could recoup the sixth-round pick they traded to get him, at the very least.
MORE BRONCOS NEWS
Tim Patrick talks about making his first catch in years
Broncos who helped their cause the most in first preseason game
Samaje Perine may be firmly on chopping block following critical error
