ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — Quarterback Bo Nix’s next game is scheduled for Week 1 in Seattle.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced Friday that Jarrett Stidham will start the Broncos’ final preseason game against the Cardinals and will play “the first series or so” before Zach Wilson enters the game.
“I would like (Stidham) to make 8 to 12 plays, and then at some point in the first or early second quarter we’ll have a lot to do with Zach (from the start),” Payton said.
In Wilson’s assignments, he is expected to do some work with the second offensive team after working with the third unit during the final weeks of training camp.
“It’s going to be a good test, a good opportunity for Zach to work with the second wave,” Payton said. “He’s going to get a lot of snaps.”
Payton said there will be “a number of starters who will not play” in the team’s final preseason game against the Cardinals.
“A handful” of key players will still play, including safety Brandon Jones. Payton also mentioned cornerback Levi Wallace and running back Audric Estime among the players who will play.
“We’re trying to pay close attention to the snaps,” Payton said. “On defense, we have to see where Jones is at, we have to see where Levi is at. There are three or four guys that haven’t really been used in the first two games. Those guys are all getting healthier. … It’s going to be more of a two-phase thing than a three-phase thing.”
While Stidham and Wilson make their final impressions of the preseason, Payton said the Broncos have “a pretty good idea of where we’re going” on the quarterback side.
“We’re going to meet here in about five minutes — (general manager) George (Paton), myself and a couple others — and go over the roster as we see it and the panelists,” Payton said. “But I think we’ve got a really good handle on this room in particular. We’re not announcing anything, but I like — I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again — I like the room. I feel like we’ve gotten better.”
