Opposing defenses are reportedly starting to poke fun at Bo Nix.
The Broncos’ rookie quarterback — the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — has struggled through the first two games of the season, both losses.
Last week, he completed 20-of-35 passes for 246 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions as the Broncos lost, 13-6, to the Steelers.
“I’m talking to the Steelers corners and they’re sitting there laughing in the corner going, ‘We knew the playbook was this big,’” NFL reporter James Palmer said on Steve Smith’s “89” podcast, indicating smallness with his fingers. “’We know they weren’t going to take any shots, and we know what he likes to do. They’re going to make it easy on him to go here and here, and that’s all we had to worry about.’”
For the season, Nix has completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 384 yards, no touchdowns, four interceptions and a rough 51.0 passer rating.
And going forward, he’d like the playbook not to be so scaled back.
“If you’re too simple, then they’ll just pick you apart,” Nix said. “So there’s just a fine line. I felt good with the plan going in. I think we’ve just got to execute the plays better.”
Despite Nix’s struggles, he is steadfast that his confidence hasn’t wavered.
“You play [football] long enough, it’ll fail you over and over and over,” said Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in April. “It will knock you down. It will beat you up. The value of playing the sport is it’s just like life. Sometimes you’ve just got to keep taking hits and keep taking hits, and then eventually you’ll figure it out and get back on your feet and move forward.”
Nix earned the starting job over ex-Jets bust Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.
Head coach Sean Payton, in his second season with the team after a disastrous debut season in charge, lauded Nix’s demeanor.
“Listen, this guy’s been through it,” Payton said. “It would be different if he hadn’t [the right demeanor].”
