DENVER (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix made another strong case for the Broncos’ starting quarterback job Sunday night when he led Denver to scores on both of his drives in his first NFL start, a 27-2 win over the Green Bay Packers’ backups.
Nix, the former Oregon star and the sixth QB selected in the 2024 NFL draft, has now led Denver to scores on six of his seven drives in the preseason.
Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tim Patrick, who’s come on strong in his bid to return to the lineup after missing the last two seasons with leg injuries. Nix also had a 14-yard strike to Javonte Williams that was overturned on review as he was ruled just past the line of scrimmage when he threw.
Denver (2-0) settled for the first of Wil Lutz’s two field goals instead.
Nix finished 8 of 9 for 90 yards and a stellar 140.7 passer rating. Patrick caught four of his passes for 30 yards. Nix also ran three times for a dozen yards.
Nix relieved incumbent Jarrett Stidham last week at Indianapolis before getting the bulk of the first-team work leading up to his first start as a pro, which included a joint practice Friday.
That workout was more competitive than this game because Packers coach Matt LaFleur advised his starters they’d have to play Sunday if they didn’t get after it at the Broncos’ suburban training complex Friday.
The Packers (1-1) ending up sitting out 31 players Sunday, including all of their regular starters.
Stidham’s 9-yard scramble into the end zone made it 17-0 just before halftime following Keidron Smith’s 56-yard interception return of a deep pass from Sean Clifford, who got the start with Jordan Love in a baseball cap.
Zach Wilson mopped up for Denver and Green Bay finally got on the scoreboard in the final minute of the third quarter when Zach Morton sacked Wilson in the end zone for a safety.
What followed was the first post-safety kickoff under the new rules, and Lutz, using a tee that hadn’t been allowed on a safety kickoff before, blasted the ball from his 20-yard line to the Green Bay 2. Dimitri Stanley returned it to the 29.
That aspect of the rule change might have unintended consequences because it can prevent teams that recorded the safety from having the favorable field position they generally got in the past with the ensuing punt, drop kick or place kick without the tee.
Wilson’s 7-yard strike to Tyler Badie made it 27-2 late in the fourth.
Another rookie who shined for Denver was linebacker Jonah Ellis, a third-round selection out of Utah, who forced an interception for the second straight game. He also had a strip-sack and recovery of Michael Pratt in the third quarter that led to a field goal.
Denver was flagged 13 times for 120 yards compared to four infractions by the Packers for 40 yards.
INJURIES: Packers LB Ralen Goforth sustained a concussion on Stidham’s touchdown just before halftime. … Broncos ILB Jonas Griffith injured his right shoulder on a tackle in the third quarter but returned. Denver rookie WR DeVaughn Vele (leg) didn’t play.
UP NEXT
Packers: Host the Ravens on Saturday.
Broncos: Host the Cardinals on Sunday.
