Bo Nix 's rookie season in the NFL will begin just as his college career did — as a Day 1 starter.
The former record-setting quarterback for Oregon and 2024 first-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos was named the team's starter on Wednesday by coach Sean Payton.
Nix beat out veterans Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the right to start the Broncos' road game against Seattle on Sept. 8.
"Bo will start and we've kind of gone through our process," said Payton, according to NFL.com. "… He's been outstanding. Obviously, there's a ton of room for growth, there's a lot of things that he needs to work on. I've already spoke with all three of those guys. (Stidham) will be a great resource for him, as well as Zach. We just, we feel like that offseason, it's such an important position, we made some really good decisions and we're gonna have a chance to see them unfold as the season goes on."
Nix started every game he played in college — 61 in total — beginning as a freshman at Auburn in 2019. His career ended with 27 straight starts as a Duck the past two seasons. He will be the first rookie quarterback to be an opening-game starter for the Broncos since John Elway in 1983.
"Obviously, that's great to share with such a great player like John Elway," Nix told reporters Wednesday. "Doesn't matter when your first start is. Doesn't matter if you have to wait or you go right now, you just want to go out there and get the win, and ultimately compete at a high level. ... So that's what my goal is at the beginning is just to give our team the best chance to win games."
Nix won the job following an impressive training camp and preseason.
In his first preseason game, Nix took over for starter Stidham and completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis on Aug. 11.
On Sunday, Nix started against Green Bay and completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards with a touchdown.
In those two games, he was a combined 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and a 116.7 quarterback rating. He didn't throw an interception or take a sack. Nix has also rushed six times for 29 yards.
Follow Chris Hansen on X @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com .
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Ex-Oregon football star Bo Nix to start for Denver Broncos
