Denver, CO
Jarrett Stidham to start as Broncos QB in preseason opener against Indianapolis Colts
Jarrett Stidham is up first once again.
The sixth-year quarterback will start Denver’s preseason opener Sunday at Indianapolis, head coach Sean Payton confirmed after practice Friday.
The decision to start Stidham, the lone incumbent in the Broncos’ quarterback room, is not a surprise. In fact, it’s in line with how Payton has conducted the entire offseason. When OTAs began in May, Stidham had the first day with the first team, followed by rookie first-round draft pick Bo Nix and then 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson. When minicamp started in June, Stidham had the first day. When training camp started? More of the same.
Nix will start the Broncos’ second preseason game, Aug. 18 at home against Green Bay, Payton said.
Sunday against Indianapolis, Stidham will play Phase 1, as Payton calls it — usually somewhere around 15-20 snaps depending on game flow — and then Nix will go second and Wilson third.
Payton said of the decision to start Stidham, “I just think right now, certainly he’s been here, his experience. Next week it’ll be Nix, but we’re focused on this game and I would say that it’s just where we’re at.”
The Broncos’ second-year head coach said Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in April’s draft, could end up getting the last drive of Phase 1 against the Colts.
“We just have to see where we’re at reps-wise,” Payton said. … “There’s a little trick to it. Are we at Play 14 and the No.1s are still out there? It really depends on how the game unfolds.”
The biggest difference for Nix between the end of Phase 1 and the start of Phase 2 will be the offensive line. Payton indicated Friday that the Broncos will rotate multiple receivers, backs and tight ends through the opening phase.
On Thursday, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi laid out the plan for the quarterbacks regardless of who is in the game or when.
“Just a clean operation and playing good football with the situation that’s presented to them,” he said. “There’s not a ton of game-planning that goes into these (preseason) games. You take a peak at the team you’re about to play, and really you’re picking your install plays that fit that team instead of like, ‘Hey, if we see this look we’re going to change this formation,’ or, ‘We’re going to add this route that we have in practice.’ You’re in there with a lot of different guys. The way that guys work together, it’s a little bit different than maybe during the season where you’re practicing with the same guys and you know who you’re throwing the routes to.
“There can be a little more uncertainty than a regular season game. So handle all that, and make good decisions and take the plays that are there. If we call a bad play, make sure nothing bad happens. Just operate well with the conditions that are given.”
Nix is still expected to push Stidham for the starting job by Week 1 in Seattle and it would be a moderate surprise if the rookie didn’t ultimately win the job, but Payton has stuck to giving Stidham first-team work for the first stanza of camp, so it follows that the plan would extend to at least the first preseason game.
“The second year in the system … things are coming more naturally to me within the system and that sort of thing,” Stidham said Wednesday before finding out he was starting the first preseason game. “I feel like training camp so far has been really good, just going back and forth every day, learning the guys.”
Payton said earlier this week that the coaching staff and personnel department were holding meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to talk through the roster and set the play plan for Indianapolis. Then offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said the staff finalized the plan Thursday afternoon. Payton also reiterated he expects most or all healthy starters to get at least some snaps in the game.
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Originally Published:
Denver, CO
Packers monitoring their backfield entering key game in Denver
True to form, Jacobs pushed to practice but said team doctors told him to chill and be smart about it. The goal is to reduce the inflammation as much as possible to increase his chances of playing.
In his pre-practice news conference on Thursday, Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised Jacobs for “doing everything in his power to get ready to go.” From his perspective, Jacobs said he feels more relief than frustration.
“I’ve been in this league a long time, and it’s not too much that really gets me discouraged or anything like that,” Jacobs said.
“We still know what’s ahead of us. Now, if we were having this going into the playoffs, it would be a little weird, but at that point I wouldn’t care because it’s either do or don’t. But for me, I know my body, there’s nothing structurally wrong, so I don’t feel like it’s something I have to overly think about.”
If Jacobs can’t go Sunday, Wilson would be in line to make his second NFL start against the team with whom he broke into the league back in 2023.
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of NCAA Division II Fort Valley State (Ga.), Wilson spent just three days with the Broncos before he was released. Ten days later, he signed with the Packers and later made the team’s 53-man roster.
The 5-foot-10, 226-pound Wilson has since rushed for 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries (4.6 yards per carry) in 37 games, highlighted by a gratifying career day against Minnesota a few weeks ago.
“I still got that mentality to go out there and do it again,” Wilson said. “If (Jacobs) is going, he’s going. If I get my opportunity once again, I’m going to take advantage of it.”
Whoever starts against Denver understands the challenge its defense presents. In addition to the Broncos pacing the NFL with 55 sacks, they also boast a No. 2-ranked run defense that’s allowing just 89.0 yards per game.
Denver hasn’t allowed a running back to gain more than 100 yards since Jonathan Taylor’s 165-yard effort powered Indianapolis to a 29-28 victory in Week 2.
As much as Jacobs enjoys practicing, he doesn’t feel it’s a requirement in order for him to play in Denver. It all comes down to how his body is feeling and whether the team doctors give him the green light on Sunday afternoon.
“I always plan to play,” Jacobs said. “They gotta kinda tell me I can’t play for me not to play. For me, that’s where my head is at, but I’m also realistically just day-to-day right now.”
Denver, CO
Game Thread: Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings. December 11th, 2025. – Denver Stiffs
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Denver, CO
Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/11-12/14 – 303 Magazine
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown:
Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.
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