Bo Nix Sets Record Straight With 1-Word After Broncos Beat 49ers

The Denver Broncos had 3 passing touchdowns in their 30-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason opener, and second-year quarterback Bo Nix did not throw any of them. More than that, the Broncos’ starting offense was out of sorts.

They were able to overcome that when the reserves entered the game, but that will be an unlikely outcome in the regular season.

According to Nix, the Broncos having their starters face the 49ers’ backups was also irrelevant.

“No,” Nix told reporters on August 9, smiling, after he was asked if there was any easing up from the Broncos going against the 49ers’ reserves, which players on both sides learned of during the week.

Nix was also responsible for a safety after he was called for intentional grounding while standing in the end zone.

Safety! @49ers add two points to their lead

Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1nNFaGuQVq

— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025

Nix made no excuses for himself or the Broncos starters.

“I just threw it away. I didn’t get the ball to the last scrimmage,” Nix said in response to a direct question, before later agreeing it was, “something we got to look at with the pressure. But overall, just when I got out, just didn’t quite look at the line of scrimmage to get the ball there.”

Bo Nix, Broncos Starters Leave Sean Payton Displeased

Nix finished the game 6-for-11 for 31 yards in the contest, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton was blunt in his assessment postgame.

Payton was not pleased.

“Look, there’ll be a lot of film to cover. Not just from the game, but also going back to the practice we had the other day. Thought we started slow. That was disappointing; both first units. So, there’ll be a handful of stuff we’ll look at there,” Payton told reporters on August 9, citing penalties among the issues he had.

“There were a number of things that we’re gonna have to improve on. Missed some protections. So, and then, there’ll be a lot of positives too, the keys in the evaluation of these players.”

Payton agreed that Nix’s penalty “would be” a valuable teaching moment for the Broncos’ QB.

Broncos QB2 Puts Stamp on Preseason Opener

The Broncos are fully behind Nix, and his modest stat line in the preseason opener is not changing that. However, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham may have done himself a big favor in any potential race for his job.

Stiduham did the heavy lifting for the Broncos in the win, finishing with 136 yards and 2 TDs on 14-of-15 passing.

Stidham said he thought the performance was “good.”

“I thought we moved the ball really well at times. Obviously, some of the penalties hurt us, but it’s good for us to get out there and just play together,” Stidham told 9News’ Scotty Gange on August 9. “We put up some points, which was great. But, hopefully, we can clean up some of those mistakes and get better this week with film and practice and stuff, and get ready to go next week.”

Stidham did not attempt a pass as the Broncos’ QB2 last season. Still, he certainly wants to fend off newcomer Sam Ehlinger (6-for-10, 55 yards, 1 TD) for the job. It is a bonus that he is comfortable in the Broncos’ offense, just in case anything happens to Nix.